National Park Service – East Metro Water

The secret life of the St. Croix’s freshwater mussels

By: angiehongmn December 9, 2021December 9, 2021

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifeendangered species, featured, freshwater mussels, National Park Service, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

“The St. Croix River is a rare example of a complete and intact river ecosystem,” explains Marian Shaffer, an Aquatic Biologist with the National Park Service. “In fact, all of the freshwater mussel species that existed in the St. Croix Riverway before European settlement are still here today.”

Volunteers work to restore Fairy Falls with help from the Stillwater Area Community Foundation

By: angiehongmn December 9, 2019December 9, 2019

Buckthorn, Keeping water clean, Outdoor AdventuresFairy Falls, featured, National Park Service, St. Croix River Association, Stillwater, Stillwater Area Community Foundation, volunteersLeave a Comment

Nestled deep in the woods on the north side of Stillwater, Fairy Falls is a well-loved and well-guarded local secret. Unless someone tells you where to go, you’d never think to park on the side of the road and hike through the brambles on an unmarked trail in search of a cascading waterfall, steep gorge…

Revisiting American History through the eyes of the Buffalo Soldiers

By: angiehongmn February 1, 2019January 31, 2019

UncategorizedBlack History month, Buffalo Soldiers, National Park Service, Yosemite National ParkLeave a Comment

The year was 1866. Minnesota had been a state for eight short years and the modern-day states of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma and the Dakotas were still territories. That year, Hawaii was still a sovereign kingdom and Alaska was still Russia. In the wake of the Civil War, the…

Like water flowing east

By: angiehongmn October 10, 2018

Uncategorizedconservation, environment, fall, featured, infrastructure, National Park Service, St. Croix River, Wild and Scenic RiverLeave a Comment

Clouds and mountains all tangled together up to the blue sky a rough road and deep woods without any travelers far away the lone moon a bright glistening white nearby a flock of birds sobbing like children one old man sitting alone perched in these green mountains a small shack the retired life letting my…

State of the Mississippi River

By: angiehongmn March 15, 2017

Uncategorizedalgae, Friends of the Mississippi River, Mississippi River, National Park Service, non-point source pollutionLeave a Comment

We’ve achieved a 35% reduction in phosphorus concentrations in the metro Mississippi River, mostly due to improvements at wastewater treatment plants, but that improvement is somewhat counteracted by the increase in flow coming from upstream.

Poetry of Nature

By: angiehongmn July 5, 2016

Outdoor AdventuresNational Park Service, St. Croix River, Wild and Scenic RiverLeave a Comment

The river brings life to fish and wildlife, fragile ecosystems, and local communities. Also, it is a place where we can leave behind the busyness of modern life and experience the song of nature.

FarmWise pilot project a winning idea

By: angiehongmn November 14, 2011

Keeping water cleanConservation farming, Freshwater Society, National Park Service, non-point source pollution, Washington Conservation District, water pollutionLeave a Comment

Earlier this year, FarmWise won $15,000 in the Minnesota Idea Open, a competition that asked people across the state to vote on-line and during the Minnesota State Fair to select their favorite, most innovative ideas for cleaning up Minnesota waterways.

Do you really like me?

By: angiehongmn November 12, 2010

Partners and UpdatesBlue Thumb, boundary waters, bwca, impaired, Mississippi River, National Park Service, native plants, phosphorus, ramsey washington metro watershed district, St. Croix River, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

My best guess for prom queen this year is the St. Croix River, liked by 16,850 people. Hopefully all those people are ready to roll up their sleeves and pitch in on projects to keep the river clean, now that its been declared impaired for excess phosphorus.

Gypsies on the St. Croix

By: angiehongmn September 3, 2010

Outdoor Adventurescanoe, canoeing, National Park Service, NPS, paddle, St. Croix, St. Croix River, Wild and Scenic, Wild and Scenic RiverLeave a Comment

Mild panic ensued, but we negotiated the whitewater successfully, without losing a single bracelet or charm.