Washington Conservation District – Page 3

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.

Breaking Eurasian watermilfoil’s stranglehold on Minnesota Lakes

By: angiehongmn March 4, 2021March 4, 2021

Aquatic BiologyAIS, Aquatic Invasive Species, Big Marine Lake, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, Eurasian watermilfoil, featured, Forest Lake, lakes, Minnesota lakes, Valley Branch Watershed District, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Researchers and lake associations search for new ways to control this aggressive invasive species. Meanwhile, watercraft inspections remain the first line of defense in preventing the spread of AIS.

To Bison or to Monet?

By: angiehongmn November 27, 2020November 23, 2020

Partners and Updates, Wildlifebison, featured, habitat restoration, Pine Point Regional Park, Pollinator Friendly Alliance, pollinators, prairie, prairie restoration, Washington Conservation District, Washington County ParksLeave a Comment

Washington County Parks is haying the prairie at Pine Point Regional Park to imitate natural processes that would occur if the land were being grazed by bison.

Transformation underway at Lake Elmo Park Reserve

By: angiehongmn September 18, 2020

Buckthorn, Partners and Updates, Wildlifefeatured, goats, habitat restoration, Lake Elmo, Lake Elmo Park Reserve, oak savanna, prairie, Washington Conservation District, Washington County, Washington County ParksLeave a Comment

Washington County secured funding through the Outdoor Heritage Fund to restore and improve 166 acres of prairie and oak savanna at Lake Elmo Park Reserve around Eagle Point Lake and in the north end of the park.

2020 Brings $1.9 Million in New Clean Water Funds to the Lower St. Croix area

By: angiehongmn February 10, 2020

Groundwater, Keeping water clean, Partners and UpdatesCarnelian Marine St. Croix Watershed District, Clean Water Fund, clean water grants, comfort lake - forest lake watershed district, featured, Forest Lake, middle st. croix watershed management organization, St. Croix River, Stillwater, Sunrise River, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

On January 22, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources approved $13.9 million in Clean Water Fund grants to improve water quality in lakes, streams, and groundwater aquifers across the state. Forest Lake emerged as a big winner in this round of funding, with the Comfort Lake – Forest Lake Watershed District securing two…