Creating an outlet to the Mississippi River in southern Washington County

Between Colby Lake in Woodbury and the Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, acres of farmland are quickly giving way to new roads, neighborhoods, buildings and businesses.

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Exploring the new Brown’s Creek Trail

Converting the rail bed into a walking and biking trail created an opportunity to correct some of the historic damage to Brown’s Creek.

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In Search of Hardwood Creek

Unique plants and animals that have long since disappeared from our area due to farming and development still find home in the groundwater fed wetlands surrounding the creek.

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The Most Beautiful Race

That the Grand Rounds Scenic byway exists today is a testament to urban planning that happened in the late 1800’s when city leaders envisioned a park system that would reconnect residents with nature.

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Getting to know your neighborhood uncommon fish

There are eight species of fish in Washington County that are considered threatened or special concern species by the State of Minnesota.

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Explore Ravine Lake and the wetlands of Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park – Sept. 18

Learn about the plant life in and around the wetlands — aquatic, amphibious, and terrestrial — and the important role these plants play in providing habitat and filtering pollutants from our waters.

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A refresher course on how pipes work

Pipes are pretty simple technology but, even so, there is a bizarre human tendency to stuff all sorts of things into them in the hopes that the pipes will make these things magically disappear.

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