nature – East Metro Water

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.

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.

Froggy Figaro

By: angiehongmn April 25, 2025April 24, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifefeatured, frogs, native plants, nature, spring, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Minnesota is home to 14 species of frogs and toads. During the spring, their chorus rings out as the males search for females and compete to present themselves as the most attractive option with whom to settle down and make a few thousand babies. Because each species has a distinctly different call, you can determine which types of frogs live in your area simply by listening to their symphony.

two hot air balloons touch down on a lake

Minnesota Lakes – What’s in a Name?

By: angiehongmn April 4, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Uncategorizedbeauty, featured, lakes, lifestyle, Minnesota lakes, nature, travelLeave a Comment

Minnesota is home to 200 Mud Lakes, 150 Long lakes, and 120 Rice lakes.

In addition to their actual names, the Minnesota DNR also assigns lakes a shoreland classification – natural environment, recreational development, or general development – that is used to guide lot size, setbacks, and land uses on surrounding properties.

Likely Stories: A Photographic Journey through Climate Adaptations in the St. Croix Watershed

By: angiehongmn February 7, 2025February 7, 2025

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Uncategorized, Wildlifeart, climate change, climate resiliency, featured, nature, photography, St Croix River, St Croix Watershed Research Station, Washington Conservation District, wild rivers conservancy, WildlifeLeave a Comment

“Likely Stories,” the project that emerged, can best be described as a photographic journey through climate adaptations in the St. Croix Watershed. As part of this project, the artists seek to document the local impacts of climate change, such as black ash swamps, decimated by Emerald ash borer, tamarack “ghost forests,” algae blooms on the river and inland lakes, and future changes at the Allen S. King power plant. Equally important, they also hope to showcase examples of individuals, communities and organizations that are taking action to build climate resiliency.

Ice castles and cliffs plus heaves on my shore?

By: angiehongmn January 31, 2025

Uncategorizedfeatured, hiking, ice, Minnesota, nature, shorelines, travel, water, winter1 Comment

From ice castles to sculptures, and even scalable cliffs of ice, Minnesotans are adept at finding creative ways to have fun in the winter. What happens, though, when the dynamic power of ice wrecks havoc on shoreline properties?

Will derby ducks sail on a cleaner creek in 2025?

By: angiehongmn December 2, 2024December 2, 2024

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, UncategorizedBayport, Clean Water Fund, conservation, environment, featured, middle st. croix watershed management organization, nature, news, Perro Creek, Washington Conservation District, WildlifeLeave a Comment

The City recently restored a 300ft stretch of degraded stream along 3rd Ave. N near Perro Park, in partnership with Middle St Croix Watershed Management Organization (MSCWMO) and the Washington Conservation District. The goal of the project is to stabilize the streambank, reduce the amount of sediment and phosphorus flowing downstream to the St. Croix River, and improve habitat along Perro Creek.

The art of finding green leaves in a dull brown forest

By: angiehongmn November 15, 2024November 14, 2024

Outdoor Adventuresfall, featured, nature, outdoorsLeave a Comment

It was a bare tree, brown leaf, bummer kind of day.

In the Woods and on the Water

By: angiehongmn July 8, 2021

Outdoor Adventures, Uncategorizedfamily fun, featured, nature, outdoorsLeave a Comment

Here is a lineup of some of the many FREE, fun, outdoor events scheduled in Washington County during the coming month.

When the stars shine bright

By: angiehongmn December 28, 2020December 28, 2020

Uncategorizedfeatured, nature, winter solsticeLeave a Comment

In this week of winter solstice, Christmas and Kwanzaa, we approach the end of a long, strange year with a mix of sadness, hope and tangled up holiday lights.