St. Croix River – 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.

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?

State funds help to amplify the work of local government partners in the St. Croix Watershed

By: angiehongmn May 5, 2025May 2, 2025

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, UncategorizedClean Water Fund, featured, Minnesota, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

Nearly 8000 square miles of land in Minnesota and Wisconsin drains to the St. Croix River. Within this larger basin, 915 square miles of land on the Minnesota side is included in the Lower St. Croix watershed. This encompasses 127 lakes, over 1,000 miles of rivers and streams, and approximately 152,000 acres of wetlands.

In its first four years, the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership reduced phosphorus to local waterways by 10,959 pounds per year, which is nearly double what the group hoped to achieve over the course of its 10-year plan.

Local officials set sail to learn about shorelines and development

By: angiehongmn July 5, 2024

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Uncategorizedconservation development, development, featured, lakes, shorelines, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

This year’s workshop focused specifically on St. Croix Riverway Rules, strategies for dealing with sticky issues and variance requests, and better site design for development and redevelopment projects.

Exploring the St. Croix Valley: Adventures on & off the Water

By: angiehongmn July 1, 2024July 2, 2024

Outdoor Adventures, Uncategorizedcamping, canoeing, featured, forests, hiking, Minnesota, prairie, St. Croix River, WisconsinLeave a Comment

In February of 2022, I took a week off of work, loaded up the dog, a pair of snowshoes, and copious amounts of coffee, chocolate, and wine, then headed up north to Pine County, Minnesota. My goal was to see if I could maybe, sort-of write a book. Now, two years later, this little book of mine finally makes its grand debut to the rest of the world!

The official launch party is next week (YES! You are invited!) and I’ll also be doing speaking events in Marine on St. Croix (July 9) and Lake Elmo (July 13). I’d love to see you in real life!

Enjoying wilderness & solitude on the Namekagon River…with a hearty dose of rain

By: angiehongmn June 21, 2024June 21, 2024

Outdoor Adventurescamping, canoeing, featured, kayaking, Namekagon River, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

The Namekagon River is located in northwestern Wisconsin and flows 101 miles from the Chequamegon–Nicolet National Forest to the St. Croix River, ending a few miles northeast of Danbury. It is the St. Croix’s longest tributary.

With eyes set on National Heritage designation, North Woods and Waters continues working to connect people and organizations in the St. Croix Region

By: angiehongmn June 7, 2024June 5, 2024

Partners and Updatesfeatured, National Heritage Area, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

“This organization is all about developing a collective pride in place and helping our small towns to thrive,” says Executive Director Monica Zachay.

‘Tis the Season to Turn out the Lights

By: angiehongmn March 21, 2024

WildlifeBird City USA, birds, featured, Minnesota, Mississippi River, St. Croix River, Stillwater1 Comment

Allison Mcginnis might not be a twitcher, but she does love birds! In this week’s East Metro water blog, Mcginnis talks about leading Sustainable Stillwater’s Bird City Stillwater initiative and shares advice for area bird-lovers.

A few tips for the coming spring:
– Turn out exterior lights to protect migrating birds
– Protect against bird strikes with window applications
– Plant a native tree, shrub, and garden
– Join a birding hike near you or enjoy one of the brand new self-guided tours!

A new future for an old stream?

By: angiehongmn November 21, 2023

Aquatic BiologyCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, featured, History, Marine on St. Croix, Mill Stream, St. Croix River, stream restoration2 Comments

The Mill Stream powered Minnesota’s first commercial saw mill and gave rise to the community of Marine on St. Croix in 1839 –two full decades before Minnesota became a state. Now, nearly 200 years later, the people of Marine are beginning to dream about a new future for this tiny but beloved stream.

Sunrise River wetland enhancement promises cleaner water downstream

By: angiehongmn November 2, 2023November 1, 2023

Keeping water clean, Local AchievementsChisago County, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, featured, St. Croix River, Sunrise River, Wetlands1 Comment

In addition to reducing downstream flooding, the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District project will also keep 89 pounds per year of phosphorus and 51,000 pounds per year of sediment out of the Sunrise River.