Washington Conservation District

Continuing a legacy of soil and water conservation

By: angiehongmn March 16, 2023March 15, 2023

Partners and Updatesconservation, featured, Minnesota, soil and water, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Last week, SWCD staff and supervisors from around the state met with state legislators during the annual Soil and Water Conservation Districts Day at the Capitol.

Numbers for the New Year

By: angiehongmn December 29, 2022December 20, 2022

Local Achievements, Yards and Landscapingconservation, featured, gardening, Homegrown National Park, native plants, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Since 2009, Washington County landowners have completed 5325 conservation projects ranging in scale from tiny front-yard pollinator gardens to large-scale conversions of cropland to native prairie.

Kristina Smitten and Jackson Meadow recognized as 2022 Community Conservationist

By: angiehongmn October 27, 2022October 27, 2022

Partners and Updates, Yards and Landscapingconservation development, featured, Marine on St. Croix, Washington Conservation District, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

Over the past decade, Smitten has acted as a connector and motivator within her community and has led stewardship efforts not only on the protected natural areas within Jackson Meadows, but also on adjacent properties that are owned by the City of Marine.

Walking in the woods – new initiatives to grow and tend the forests in Washington County

By: angiehongmn October 13, 2022October 10, 2022

Partners and Updatescommunity forestry, featured, forests, trees, Washington Conservation District, Washington CountyLeave a Comment

This fall, the WCD is launching a new initiative to develop a countywide community forestry program, in partnership with cities, volunteers, and the AmeriCorps Climate Impact Program.

Bring on the bees

By: angiehongmn August 11, 2022November 30, 2022

Yards and Landscapingbee lawns, featured, lawns, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

It is hard to say whether bee lawns are a hot new trend or a throw-back to the early 1900s.

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.

Give me a home where the bees and butterflies roam

By: angiehongmn November 26, 2021November 23, 2021

Yards and LandscapingBlue Thumb, featured, lawns to legumes, native plants, prairie, prairie restoration, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

A native plant revival is underway and Lawns to Legumes grants are here to help.

Wetland in your yard?

By: angiehongmn November 4, 2021November 2, 2021

Keeping water clean, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, native plants, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation District, WetlandsLeave a Comment

Wetlands protect nearby homes from flooding and help to reduce shoreline erosion along the edges of rivers and lakes. If you have a wetland on or near your property, however, you may need to make some changes in your landscaping and seasonal yard care.

Preserving a piece of paradise in the St. Croix Valley

By: angiehongmn March 25, 2021March 25, 2021

Keeping water clean, Yards and LandscapingCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, conservation easements, featured, land conservation, Minnesota Land Trust, prairie, prairie restoration, Silver Creek, St. Croix River, St. Croix River Association, Washington Conservation District, Washington CountyLeave a Comment

Paul Goodwin and his family have established a 49-acre conservation easement on land abutting Silver Creek near Stillwater, MN and are working to convert 14-acres of fallow farmland to prairie and oak savanna.

Cleaner water ahead at Carver Lake Park in Woodbury

By: angiehongmn March 11, 2021March 10, 2021

Keeping water clean, Local Achievementsalgae blooms, Carver Lake, featured, native plants, raingardens, ramsey washington metro watershed district, stormwater runoff, Washington Conservation District, WoodburyLeave a Comment

This summer, visitors to Carver Lake Park will discover a newly renovated parking lot, complete with a 5220 sq ft raingarden and 8000 sq ft of native plantings designed to filter and treat polluted runoff, as well as create habitat for birds and pollinators. The raingarden will capture 0.7lb of phosphorus, which is enough to prevent 350 pounds of algae from growing in the lake.