A healthy shore is a happy lake

Shoreline landscaping workshops: April 18 and May 8

In the Land of 10,000 lakes, more and more lakeshore landowners are turning toward natural solutions that combine bio-engineering with deep-rooted, native plants to stabilize the land along the water’s edge while also maintaining connected corridors of habitat for beneficial insects, fish, birds, frogs, turtles, and other kinds of wildlife

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Bee Lawns and Slow Mow Summer

A movement is underway to transform our residential landscapes into something that is a little softer, a little wilder, and much better able to support wildlife and clean water.

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Continuing a legacy of soil and water conservation

Last week, SWCD staff and supervisors from around the state met with state legislators during the annual Soil and Water Conservation Districts Day at the Capitol.

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Trout return to Afton’s Trout Brook

The stream restoration project creates different types of habitat that fish need, including deep pools with slow-moving water, shallow riffles with fast, turbulent water running over rocks, and runs with deep, fast water and little to no turbulence.

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An end to fish favoritism?

This spring, Minnesota lawmakers consider new legislation, known as the “No Junk Fish” bill, which would provide funding for the DNR to study native fish species that are currently classified as rough fish and propose updated regulations to better manage and protect their populations.

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Busy buzzing bees and such

It is said that one out of every three bites of food we eat is created with the help of pollinators. Unfortunately, many species of pollinators are declining due to loss of habitat and the use of insecticides, including neonicotinoids. Happily, regular people like you and I can help to create pockets of biodiversity and protect pollinators, simply by incorporating flowering native plants into our yards to provide blooms throughout the growing season.

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Growth and change at William O’Brien State Park

By 1947, there were 30 state parks in Minnesota but none located close to the Twin Cities area. That’s when Alice O’Brien stepped up to donate 180 acres of land near Marine on St. Croix, which formed the seed for a new park to grow.

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Planning ahead for a rainy day

Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District launches wetland enhancement project, wins Climate Adaptation award.

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Mimicking Nature with Green Infrastructure

One way to make better use of nature’s readymade bioengineering is through green infrastructure practices such as raingardens, green roofs, and permeable pavement that help to catch water and hold it on the landscape for future use.

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