featured – East Metro Water

Bringing public art into stormwater management

By: angiehongmn January 26, 2023January 24, 2023

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesart, featured, public art, ramsey washington metro watershed district, south washington watershed district, stormwater, WoodburyLeave a Comment

A growing number of watershed management organizations are recognizing the value of public art to beautify otherwise boring stormwater management projects, illustrate connections between built and natural environments, and explain technical processes in new and creative ways.

Beating the winter doldrums – events and activities to keep you moving

By: angiehongmn January 19, 2023January 17, 2023

Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, Minnesota, recreation, winter1 Comment

Winter is a great time for star gazing, full moon hikes, skiing and snowshoeing, and winter festivals.

To dam or not to dam?

By: angiehongmn January 6, 2023

Partners and Updatesdam removal, featured, fishing, Friends of the Mississippi River, Mississippi RiverLeave a Comment

The Minnesota DNR has removed more than 50 dams statewide during the past thirty years and has found that an average of 73% of the lost species return to these rivers once the dams are gone. Despite the obvious ecological benefits, however, dam removal isn’t always an easy decision.

Numbers for the New Year

By: angiehongmn December 29, 2022December 20, 2022

Local Achievements, Yards and Landscapingconservation, featured, gardening, Homegrown National Park, native plants, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Since 2009, Washington County landowners have completed 5325 conservation projects ranging in scale from tiny front-yard pollinator gardens to large-scale conversions of cropland to native prairie.

Jim Pechacek and Caroline Mecklin selected as 2022 Outstanding Conservationists

By: angiehongmn December 14, 2022

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and Updatescover crops, farming, featured, sustainable agricultureLeave a Comment

Jim and Caroline are stewarding farmland in the St. Croix Valley that has been in the family for more than 140 years.

A very hygge holiday?

By: angiehongmn December 9, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanchloride, featured, salt, water pollution, winterLeave a Comment

Most often, you experience hygge with a small group of friends or family, possibly in front of a fireplace with warm wooly socks and a steaming drink in hand, but definitely not behind the wheel of a car, careening through rush hour traffic in the middle of an ice storm.

Indigenous Perspectives on Land Management

By: angiehongmn December 6, 2022December 6, 2022

UncategorizedDakota, featured, habitat restoration, Minnesota, Native people, native plants, OjibweLeave a Comment

Oak savanna is one example of an ecosystem that has co-evolved with humans in several different locations in North America. In this transitional zone between forest and prairie, people used fire to maintain open areas as a way to attract large game animals such as bison and elk.

Sweeping streets and clearing drains for a cleaner St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn December 1, 2022November 29, 2022

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesadopt a drain, featured, stormwater, stormwater pollution, street sweepingLeave a Comment

This winter, the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership will allocate $40,000 in state funding to help 16 local communities develop targeted, enhanced street sweeping programs in order to reduce stormwater runoff pollution to the St. Croix River and its tributary lakes and streams.

Strange facts about two of Minnesota’s favorite comeback animals

By: angiehongmn November 28, 2022

WildlifeDeer, featured, Minnesota, wild turkeys, WildlifeLeave a Comment

Deer and turkeys are two of the most common charismatic megafauna that we see in the east metro and lower St. Croix Valley, but that wasn’t always the case.