Stillwater – East Metro Water

It takes a village – planting and tending to raingardens in Washington County

Since 2006, community residents and local government partners have completed nearly 6000 conservation planting projects in Washington County to protect our lakes, rivers, and streams. More than 1600 of these are raingardens, designed to catch nutrient-rich runoff from rooftops, driveways, and streets and soak the water into the ground before it reaches a storm sewer or nearby waterway. Raingardens beautify our local communities and provide habitat for pollinators, but do require specialized knowledge to design, construct, and maintain them for long-term success.

Plants tell the story of a lake in recovery

By: angiehongmn July 23, 2026July 16, 2026

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesaquatic plants, Brown's Creek Watershed District, featured, featuresd, lake restoration, Long Lake, Stillwater, stormwaterLeave a Comment

Between 1970 and 2002, Long Lake in Stillwater experienced a slow decline caused by farming, development, and stormwater runoff. Since then, the Brown’s Creek Watershed District, City of Stillwater, and local landowners have completed more that 100 projects to restore the lake to good health.

Community art project explores flora and fauna of the Brown’s Creek Watershed

By: angiehongmn February 28, 2025February 28, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Partners and Updates, Wildlifeart, Browns Creek Watershed DIstrict, drawing, featured, painting, poetry, St Croix River, Stillwater, writingLeave a Comment

The Water Where We Live is open for viewing Mondays through Fridays from 10am – 3pm or by appointment at A House Unbuilt’s Art & Water Space (321 Main Street S – second floor). There will also be a reception on Thursday, March 6 from 4-7pm that is free and open to the public. Stop by to meet the artists, have a drink at the “Water Bar,” and learn from environmental professionals at Brown’s Creek Watershed District and EOR.

Brown’s Creek takes a few twists and turns for the better

By: angiehongmn May 13, 2024

Aquatic Biology, Buckthorn, Partners and Updates, WildlifeBrown's Creek, featured, fishing, Stillwater, stream restoration, troutLeave a Comment

This week, Brown’s Creek Watershed District begins work on a stream restoration project designed to reduce bank erosion and improve habitat for fish along a half-mile stretch of water that flows between McKusick Ave. and the Brown’s Creek State Trail.

‘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!

Friends of Lily Lake invites community to celebrate lake’s “de-listing” on September 30

By: angiehongmn September 19, 2022October 3, 2022

Keeping water clean, Local Achievementsclean water, featured, Lily Lake, middle st. croix watershed management organization, StillwaterLeave a Comment

On Friday, September 30, 5-7:30pm, Friends of Lily Lake will celebrate this return to clean water with a family-friendly community event at Lily Lake Park. The event will include food, music, roasted s’mores over a campfire, and kids nature activities. There will also be a short program at 6pm to officially commemorate the de-listing of Lily Lake. The event is free and open to all.

Local lakes at risk of too much love

By: angiehongmn August 25, 2022November 30, 2022

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanfeatured, fishing, Lake Elmo, Minnesota lakes, Scandia, shoreline habitat, StillwaterLeave a Comment

As shorelines become increasingly more developed, we start to see shoreline erosion, fewer fish and wildlife, more algae in the water, and diminished water clarity.

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.

Sustainable Stillwater recognized as Washington County’s 2021 Community Conservationist

By: angiehongmn December 16, 2021December 16, 2021

Uncategorizedadopt a drain, featured, raingardens, Stillwater, Sustainable Stillwater, volunteers, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Sustainable Stillwater’s Natural Resources team has helped to recruit 45 raingarden adopters and 218 storm drain adopters. They have also engaged volunteers to stencil storm drains, weed and clean-out a native shoreline buffer at Lily Lake, and install cigarette disposal canisters in downtown Stillwater.

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.