East Metro Water

Calling all horse owners

By: angiehongmn March 17, 2016

Keeping water cleanHorses, pasture management, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

The Washington Conservation District offers free site visits for all Washington County landowners and can provide advice and sometimes financial assistance to control noxious weeds, prepare pasture management and whole-farm plans, and complete projects to reduce mud, repair gullies, and reestablish vegetation along streamside and wetland areas, or install fencing to keep horses and other livestock out of wetlands, lakes and streams. This year’s horse workshop is scheduled for Monday, March 21, 5:30-8:30pm at the Washington Conservation Center in Oakdale.

All about Insects

By: angiehongmn March 9, 2016

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, gardening, insects, native plants, planting for birds, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

One example, wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa – also known as bee balm), is one of the best forage plants for bumble bees. Bergamot also provides nectar for honeybees, black sweat bees, mason wasps, great black wasps, eastern tiger swallowtail butterflies, silver spotted skipper butterflies, monarch butterflies, great spangled fritillary butterflies, moths, snout moths, hummingbird clearwing moths, long-horned bees, cuckoo bees, green sweat bees, wool carder bees, small resin bees, leafcutter bees, and sweat bees.

Community Supported Agriculture

By: angiehongmn March 7, 2016

Keeping water cleanclean water, Community Supported Agriculture, Conservation farming, MinnesotaLeave a Comment

These programs connect people directly with the farmers growing their food. Members sign up during the spring and pay all or a portion of their payment in advance. Then, during the growing season, they receive a box of food every week – usually vegetables, but sometimes also fruit, eggs, meat or honey.

Worlds apart and yet somehow not so different

By: angiehongmn March 2, 2016

Outdoor AdventuresLouisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi River, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Last month, my husband and I had the good fortune to travel down to Louisiana for a week of Mardis Gras festivities, a holiday that many northerners associate with episodes of MTV Spring Break or Girls Gone Wild. In reality, Mardis Gras is a family-friendly event, celebrated across the state in cities and towns large and…

St. Croix – River or Lake?

By: angiehongmn February 22, 2016

Uncategorizedimpaired waters, non-point source pollution, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

In this report, people might be surprised to learn that the St. Croix “River” from Stillwater to Prescott is not just a lake, it is four lakes!

Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix breaks ground on major Clean Water Project with big benefits for Sand Lake

By: angiehongmn February 17, 2016

Keeping water cleanCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, clean water, clean water grants, iron-sand filters, Sand Lake, ScandiaLeave a Comment

This one project will treat 90% of the drainage area to Sand Lake, with the exception of the Hay Lake overflow, and will remove twice as much phosphorus as all the other possible projects combined.

Comfort Lake – Forest Lake moves forward with major Clean Water project at Bixby Park

By: angiehongmn February 17, 2016

Keeping water cleanBixby Park, clean water, clean water grants, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, Forest LakeLeave a Comment

Water quality problems in the Sunrise River harken back to the early 1900s when farmers ditched many stretches of the river in order to dry out nearby wetlands to plant crops.

History of an Acronym – MS4

By: angiehongmn February 2, 2016

Keeping water cleanMS4, non-point source pollution, stormwater pollutionLeave a Comment

The program regulates cities and other entities that manage storm sewer systems and is administered in our state by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Under the snow, gardens wait to grow

By: angiehongmn January 26, 2016

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, native plants, pollinatorsLeave a Comment

On February 20, Wild Ones: Native Plants, Natural Landscapes will hold its annual Design with Nature Conference in St. Paul at St. Thomas University. The event is an opportunity for gardeners, native plant enthusiasts, habitat restorationists, and landscape designers to learn more about gardening with native plants and making use of residential landscapes to improve habitat for birds and pollinators, and keep stormwater pollution out of local lakes, rivers and wetlands.

Water News for the New Year

By: angiehongmn January 25, 2016

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesbuffers, clean water grants, legacy amendment, St. Croix River, Washington CountyLeave a Comment

This year, BWSR awarded 64 new grants totaling $11.7 million. Seven of the projects are in areas draining directly or indirectly to the St. Croix River.

Locally, watershed management organizations – Brown’s Creek, Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix, Middle St. Croix, South Washington, and Valley Branch – are all in the process of updating their 10-year management plans.