lakes – East Metro Water

Legacy Amendment is one of many things that Minnesota does well

By: angiehongmn January 23, 2026January 21, 2026

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Wildlifeclean water, featured, lakes, legacy amendment, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

The Legacy Amendment has catalyzed significant improvements in Minnesota’s natural environment, including 184 lakes and streams delisted and more than 1 million acres of wildlife habitat protected or restored.

Finding frozen frogs

By: angiehongmn December 19, 2025December 16, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifefeatured, fish, frogs, lakes, Minnesota, salt, turtles, winter1 Comment

When the snow falls and lakes freeze over, Minnesota’s wildlife employ a variety of adaptations to stay alive.

Beaver Love: A new initiative aims to help beavers and people co-exist in harmony

By: angiehongmn November 28, 2025November 25, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Partners and Updates, Wildlifebeavers, featured, forests, lakes, Washington County, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Last winter, Andy Riesgraf and Emily Fairfax teamed up to establish Beaver Innovations LLC, a UMN start-up company that is focused on finding ways to help beavers and people coexist in harmony.

The duo’s first three beaver co-existence projects are located in Washington County at the Big Marine Park Reserve expansion site and Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, made possible by funding from Pollinator Friendly Alliance’s biodiversity project.

Subtle signs of a changing climate

By: angiehongmn October 10, 2025October 7, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanalgae blooms, bluegreen algae, Carver Lake, climate change, cyanobacteria, featured, lakes, Minnesota, ramsey washington metro watershed district, south washington watershed district, Washington Conservation District, WoodburyLeave a Comment

Bluegreen algae blooms have become more prevalent in urban lakes, as well as in pristine northern lakes including Lake Itasca, the Boundary Waters, and Quetico Wilderness Area.

One fish, two fish, plant for more fish?

By: angiehongmn July 25, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Partners and Updates, WildlifeCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, featured, fish, fishing, lakes, natural shorelines, shorelines, Valley Branch Watershed DistrictLeave a Comment

Seine netting is one technique that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) uses to collect fish when developing an “index of biological integrity” for a lake, known as an IBI score. The number and variety of fish caught helps the DNR to determine whether a lake fully supports aquatic life.

St. Croix Watershed research highlights growing impact of chloride pollution

By: angiehongmn July 18, 2025July 17, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanchloride, featured, lakes, Minnesota, salt, St. croix Watershed research station, water pollution, winterLeave a Comment

Chloride is toxic to freshwater organisms like fish, frogs, and aquatic invertebrates and also alters lakes’ internal chemistry, causing a cascade of unexpected impacts.

Why is my lake green?

By: angiehongmn July 10, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanalgae blooms, beaches, blue-green algae, featured, lakes, MinnesotaLeave a Comment

Across the state, numerous beaches have closed unseasonably early due to blue-green algal blooms, which can be toxic to both people and dogs.

How can you tell the difference between blue-green algae and run-of-the-mill pond scum?

Submit a nomination for 2025 Natural Shoreline Awards

The Natural Shoreline Award Program recognizes beautiful lakeshore, riverfront and streamside properties that incorporate native flowers, shrubs, trees and plants. Award-winning properties can be located in Chisago, Isanti, Ramsey or Washington Counties.

2025 Program Timeline:
– July 1 – August 7: Call for nominations
– August 7 – 31: Program judges will tour and evaluate shorelines
– September 9: Award recipients are announced

Learn more and submit your nominations.

Good for the goose and gander

By: angiehongmn June 20, 2025June 27, 2025

Wildlifebirding, birds, Canada goose, featured, geese, lakes, lawns, Minnesota, nature, travel, Wetlands, Wildlife, wildlife recoveryLeave a Comment

Given their current abundance, you might be surprised to learn that Canada geese were a rare novelty in the 1920s. In fact, state and federal agencies actually worked together to breed and re-introduce them to the wild during the 1950s.