Tips and tales about keeping water clean
In recognition of his many years of volunteer efforts tending trees and water on the edge of the Northwoods, Tom Furey was selected as the Washington County Conservation Cooperator of the year for 2024. He also received a Watershed Champion award from the CLFLWD at their 25th Anniversary celebration in September.
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A recent report from the Natural Shorelines Partnership noted that Minnesota has lost 50% of its natural shorelines over the past 100 years, and continues to lose shoreline habitat at a rate of 1-2% per decade.
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Fourteen new zebra mussel infestations were discovered in Minnesota in 2024, including Big Carnelian Lake in northern Washington County.
While news of a new zebra mussel infestation is discouraging, it is important to remember that 96% of lakes in Minnesota do NOT have zebra mussels and can still be protected from future infestations if lakeshore landowners, contractors, boaters, and anglers commit to taking action.
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Water monitoring data has shown a steady improvement in Hay Lake’s water quality over the past ten years as a result of planting projects completed on the land in the surrounding watershed. In 2022, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency officially “de-listed” Hay Lake, meaning it is no longer considered impaired.
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Are you seeing more wildlife in your backyard or neighborhood? Do you have a funny animal story to share? Got a great fish tale? Submit them online at tinyurl.com/wildlifestories to have them included in the WCD’s story map.
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Erik Anderson and Karen Kill have played lead roles in local watershed work during the past twenty years. What excites them most about their jobs and what changes have they seen in the past two decades?
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Landfall’s pollinator demonstration project features new native plantings on Tanner’s Lake, as well as at the Tot Lot playground, the community center, and a neighborhood cul de sac, and will also create a demonstration bee lawn behind the community center.
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On this evening in June, our group is gathered at Belwin to learn about managing woodlands for resiliency, and one of the key take-aways is that a love of forests requires landowners to actively engage with and care for their forests and woodlands.
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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.
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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.
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East Metro Water 