Minnesota – East Metro Water

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.

Minnesota Water Stewards goes statewide

By: angiehongmn October 23, 2025October 22, 2025

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesfeatured, Freshwater Society, Minnesota, Minnesota lakes, Mississippi River, nature, North Woods and Waters of the St. Croix Heritage Area, St. Croix River, St. Croix Valley Foundation, volunteering, Washington Conservation District, Washington County ParksLeave a Comment

David, Kim, Barb and Mike are part of an elite cadre of volunteers helping to engage communities across Minnesota and western Wisconsin in grass-roots projects to protect and restore lakes, rivers, and streams.

Beginning in 2026, Freshwater is taking the program statewide and removing the enrollment fee so that more people can participate. Locally, the St. Croix Valley Foundation has provided grant funds to Washington Conservation District (WCD), Freshwater, and North Woods and Waters to train-in a new cohort of volunteers, starting in 2026.

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.

Stories of the St. Croix

By: angiehongmn August 8, 2025August 5, 2025

Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, History, Minnesota, St. Croix River, WisconsinLeave a Comment

How do you tell the story of a place?

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.

Score your shore: A tool to measure the health of your lakeshore property

By: angiehongmn June 13, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lakes, lakeshore, Minnesota, Minnesota lakes, native plants, shoreline, up northLeave a Comment

Maintaining and restoring lakeshore habitat isn’t just good for wildlife, it also helps to protect valuable real estate from literally washing away.

No Mow May & Slow Mow Summer

By: angiehongmn May 9, 2025May 8, 2025

Yards and Landscapingfeatured, lawns, Minnesota, No Mow May, pollinators, yard careLeave a Comment

Participating in No Mow May is a great entry-level action that anyone can take to help protect the environment, and best of all, it is FREE!

Many people who participate in No Mow May become inspired to take the next step and transition their conventional turf lawn into a low-mow or alternative lawn. Drought tolerant turf-grass species like fine fescues reduce the need for mowing, watering, and chemicals, while low-growing flowers like Dutch white clover, self-heal, yarrow, creeping thyme, and pussy-toes can also be incorporated to provide food for native bees.