2021 will bring $2.6 million in new funding for watershed work in the St. Croix region

Just in time for the holidays, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources approved $12.3 million in Clean Water Fund grants to be used statewide for water quality improvement projects across Minnesota. Locally, partners in the Lower St. Croix watershed will receive $1.4 million in Clean Water grants in addition to $1.2 million already…

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Amidst tumult of 2020, Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District work continues

CLFLWD continues its work to protect and improve local lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands in Forest Lake and southern Chisago County. The district has completed dozens of clean water projects and is currently updating its 10-year comprehensive watershed management plan, which will guide future work from 2022-2031.

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2020 Brings $1.9 Million in New Clean Water Funds to the Lower St. Croix area

On January 22, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources approved $13.9 million in Clean Water Fund grants to improve water quality in lakes, streams, and groundwater aquifers across the state. Forest Lake emerged as a big winner in this round of funding, with the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District securing two…

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2019 Brings New Funding for Local Clean Water Work

In 2008, Minnesota voters passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment to protect and support clean water, healthy habitat, vibrant arts and culture, and beloved parks and trails. Over the past ten years, a sales tax increase of 0.375% has generated more than $2.5 billion, $860 million of which has been used to fund…

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Hardy Minnesotans Not Going to Let Water Pollution Win

The state has 11,842 lakes and 69,000 miles of rivers and streams, and Minnesotans intend to hunt, fish, boat and swim every one of those water bodies.

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Using a Watershed Approach to Restore Area Lakes

On Friday, January 27, the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District broke ground on a $536,605 wetland restoration project in southern Chisago County that will ultimately improve water quality in Moody Lake (Chisago Lake Twp.) and Bone Lake (Scandia). The project will serve as an example for how to work at a watershed scale, as…

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2017 Brings More Than $2 Million in Clean Water Funds to Washington County

$505,000 will be used to help Forest Lake Area Schools, the Rice Creek Watershed District and the City of Forest Lake retrofit stormwater ponds and construct new irrigation systems to reduce groundwater use by more than 4 million gallons per year.

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

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.

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

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.

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Water News for the New Year

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.

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