stormwater – East Metro Water

Bringing public art into stormwater management

By: angiehongmn January 26, 2023January 24, 2023

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A growing number of watershed management organizations are recognizing the value of public art to beautify otherwise boring stormwater management projects, illustrate connections between built and natural environments, and explain technical processes in new and creative ways.

Sweeping streets and clearing drains for a cleaner St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn December 1, 2022November 29, 2022

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This winter, the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership will allocate $40,000 in state funding to help 16 local communities develop targeted, enhanced street sweeping programs in order to reduce stormwater runoff pollution to the St. Croix River and its tributary lakes and streams.

Who maintains raingardens after they are planted?

By: angiehongmn June 2, 2022

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, raingarden maintenance, raingardens, stormwater, volunteersLeave a Comment

As raingardens surged in popularity, local communities quickly realized how challenging it could be to keep these new gardens looking good and functioning properly.

10,000 Storm Drain Adopters in the Land of 10,000 Lakes

By: angiehongmn May 3, 2022

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To date, nearly 10,000 Minnesotans have adopted 17,762 storm drains, and those volunteers have reported collecting 474,096 pounds of debris that would have otherwise ended up in our water.

Street Sweepers to the Rescue

By: angiehongmn October 14, 2021October 29, 2021

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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.

Holey Pavement

By: angiehongmn June 24, 2021

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Conventional pavement is impermeable, which is a fancy way of saying that water does not soak through it when it rains. In contrast, porous pavement is holey – in a good way.

Marine community works to revitalize village center and protect the St. Croix River

By: angiehongmn May 13, 2021

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On Saturday, May 1, volunteers in Marine on St. Croix planted 1,500 native plants along a wetland to create a natural buffer that will help to hold the soil in place and guard against erosion.

Mahtomedi Teacher Inspires Earth Day Action throughout the Year

By: angiehongmn April 22, 2021April 28, 2021

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Ms. Comfort, as her students know her, is a STEM specialist at Wildwood Elementary in Mahtomedi who is always looking for unique ways to teach her kids to protect the environment.

Boring bureaucracy keeps the water clean

By: angiehongmn November 12, 2020

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The U.S. EPA created the MS4 Program in 1990 to address the growing threat of stormwater pollution. In Minnesota, the program is administered by the MPCA and applies to roughly 300 cities, townships, counties, watershed districts, and large campuses such as universities, hospitals and prison complexes that operate their own private roads and stormwater drainage systems. This includes more than 20 permit holders in Washington County.

Boy Scouts and Water Stewards help to create outdoor classrooms in Woodbury

By: angiehongmn November 6, 2020

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Water Conservation, Yards and LandscapingBoy Scouts, environmental education, featured, Master Water Stewards, prairie, south washington watershed district, stormwater, volunteering, water conservation, WoodburyLeave a Comment

South Washington Watershed District created its Campus Greening program two years ago to encourage schools and other large campuses to think holistically about how they can meet stormwater management requirements when expanding buildings and parking areas. At the Lake and Middleton campus, South Washington County Schools (District 844) worked with SWWD to convert 15 acres of turf to prairie, plant 200 trees, and create the two new outdoor classrooms.