phosphorus – East Metro Water

Cattails to the rescue?

By: angiehongmn November 7, 2025November 3, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatescattails, chloride, featured, invasive species, phosphorusLeave a Comment

Could cattails help to solve phosphorus and chloride pollution in some of our lakes and wetlands? A new pilot initiative led by the South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) aims to find out.

Lily Lake alum treatment scheduled for May 19

By: angiehongmn May 12, 2022May 11, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and Updatesalgae, alum treatment, featured, Lily Lake, middle st. croix watershed management organization, phosphorus, StillwaterLeave a Comment

The alum will draw phosphorus out of the water column and also seal sediment on the lake bottom so that the nutrient can no longer feed algae.

Street Sweepers to the Rescue

By: angiehongmn October 14, 2021October 29, 2021

Keeping water cleanadopt a drain, featured, phosphorus, stormwater, stormwater pollution, street sweeping1 Comment

Cities use street sweepers to maintain a tidy appearance, but these machines can also be an important and cost-effective tool for reducing stormwater pollution.

New project aims to take Lily Lake off the impaired water’s list

By: angiehongmn September 30, 2021September 28, 2021

Keeping water clean, Local Achievementsfeatured, Lily Lake, middle st. croix watershed management organization, phosphorus, raingarden, Stillwater, stormwater pollutionLeave a Comment

A new regional infiltration basin will collect and filter stormwater from a large area of land that includes commercial and residential property, delivering it to Lily Lake cleaner and with less phosphorus.

Green days on a summer lake – and that’s not a good thing

By: angiehongmn August 21, 2020August 20, 2020

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanalgae, algae blooms, featured, phosphorus, stormwater pollution, Woodbury1 Comment

Algae blooms in Carver Lake and other urban lakes are usually caused by too much phosphorus flowing into the water from sidewalks, streets, and parking lots.

Help to keep our lakes blue by sweeping dirt and yard waste off of your sidewalk, driveway and curb-line throughout the year and adopting your local storm drain: http://www.adopt-a-drain.org.

A clear path ahead for Moody Lake

By: angiehongmn November 6, 2018November 6, 2018

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and Updatesalgae blooms, alum treatment, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, featured, Moody Lake, phosphorus, round barnLeave a Comment

Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District rounds out multi-year project with fall alum treatment In 1871, Elof and Eva Modig migrated to the United States from Sweden, purchased land near a small lake in southern Chisago County (at $1.25 an acre) and settled down to build a house and begin farming wheat. Over the…

Statewide Feedback on Water Issues Echoes Local Concerns in East Metro and St. Croix Valley

By: angiehongmn March 8, 2018

Keeping water cleanimpaired waters, lakes, mercury, phosphorus, streams, water, watershed managementLeave a Comment

Data shows that 40% of Minnesota lakes, rivers and streams are classified as impaired, and the East Metro and St. Croix Valley are no exception.

Way Down Upon the Suwannee River

By: angiehongmn June 20, 2016

Keeping water cleanerosion control, fertilizer, phosphorus1 Comment

The Suwannee River Mine, which opened in northern Florida in 1965, was once one of our nation’s most productive sources for rock phosphate, the raw material used to manufacture phosphoric acid (phosphorus).

The mysterious connection between leaves and algae

By: angiehongmn October 12, 2015

Yards and Landscapingalgae, leaf raking, non-point source pollution, phosphorusLeave a Comment

Consider the contrast between what happens to fallen leaves in a forest, versus those in a city neighborhood.

As the Water Drop Rolls

By: angiehongmn January 7, 2015

Uncategorizedalgae, Brown's Creek Watershed District, Carnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, middle st. croix watershed management organization, phosphorus, ramsey washington metro watershed district, rice creek watershed district, south washington watershed district, Valley Branch Watershed District, water pollutionLeave a Comment

Elsewhere across the east metro, homeowners wielding shovels and pitchforks laid traps, disguised as ornamental landscaping, to keep nutrients and other pollutants out of local waterways.