East Metro Water

Unicorn Ranches, National Parks and Waterslides

By: angiehongmn October 19, 2016

Keeping water cleanAfton State Park, Lake Elmo Elementary, land development, Salem Lutheran School, St. Croix River, Trout in the Classroom, Trout UnlimitedLeave a Comment

Bounded by the St. Croix River on the east and the Mississippi on the west, Lake Elmo and Trout Brook in-between, we were able to see how each student’s choices for land development fit in the larger landscape.

St. Croix Stories

By: angiehongmn October 17, 2016

Keeping water cleanSt. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

The St. Croix River has changed dramatically over the years. What do you think it will look like 40 years from now?

Sending Love From Down Under

By: angiehongmn October 17, 2016

Outdoor AdventuresLeave a Comment

I’m enjoying the tropical weather here in Queensland and the beaches are beautiful despite the fact that they’re all infested with crocodiles.

Two Llamas and a Prairie

By: angiehongmn October 12, 2016

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Yards and Landscapingconservation, prairie, small farms, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

“For our 25th anniversary – the silver anniversary – we got a doe with silver ears and two baby goats.” Becky Vierling smiles as she talks about the small farm in Denmark Township that she and her husband Philip bought in 2003. When the Vierlings took on a more than 100-year old farm house with…

Celebrating the Wild Along Brown’s Creek Trail

By: angiehongmn September 15, 2016

Outdoor AdventuresBrown's Creek Watershed District, Browns Creek State TrailLeave a Comment

Sometimes I wonder if our children can still find the wild that we grew up in.

Recipe for Saucy Homegrown Algae

By: angiehongmn September 15, 2016

Keeping water cleanalgae, algae blooms, clean water, non-point source pollutionLeave a Comment

Interested in whipping up a batch of blue-green algae for your next family gathering? Here’s what you’ll need.

Inside a Tiny Fairy Kingdom

By: angiehongmn August 29, 2016

Outdoor Adventurescover crops, fungus, mushrooms, soil healthLeave a Comment

They don’t get much acclaim, but I am strangely infatuated with mushrooms. They sprout up out of dried leaves and rotting logs on the forest floor in vibrant colors of red, orange, and yellow. I crouch down low to peer at the gills beneath their silky caps and look for tiny fairies hiding in the moss…

Join the PolliNATION

By: angiehongmn August 23, 2016

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, Blue Thumb, clean water, monarchs, native plants, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Since your own lawn is small, you might be surprised to learn that turf grass covers more acres of land in the U.S. than the eight largest agricultural crops combined. Imagine what a difference it would make if all of us converted ¼ of our lawn to native plantings that provide habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife.

Out of Rock, Water

By: angiehongmn August 11, 2016

Outdoor Adventuresclean water, groundwater, Minnesota State Parks, streams, troutLeave a Comment

While camping at Beaver Creek Valley State Park two weeks ago, my family enjoyed a weekend of simple pleasures and unexpected treasures.

Now Serving…Water

By: angiehongmn August 4, 2016

Groundwaterdrinking water, groundwater, Washington County Fair, waterLeave a Comment

Step right up folks! Welcome to the one, the only, “Water Bar,” where the only thing we’re serving every day is water. Good evening, ma’am – beautiful day to be at the Washington County Fair, is it not? Would you care to try a sample of one of our locally sourced waters today? This one…