Washington Conservation District – Page 5

Though board supervisors rarely end up in the spotlight, their leadership helps to guide land and water protection efforts across Washington County.

A Conservation Ethic Runs in the Family

By: angiehongmn October 27, 2017

Uncategorizedagricultural projects, Clean Water Fund, conservation easement, Minnesota Land Trust, south washington watershed district, St. Croix River, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Doug Schaffer remembers moving from Roseville to Demark Township in 1969 when he was 15 years old. It was a big change for a city kid. His parents, Kenneth and Margery, purchased 120 acres of farmland along the St. Croix River south of Afton State Park in an area dominated by rolling hills, farms, and…

Reflecting on 75 Years of Conservation in Washington County

By: angiehongmn August 10, 2017

Local Achievements, Partners and Updatesclean water, conservation, soil health, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

The landscape of Washington County has changed tremendously since 1942, but many of our conservation challenges and solutions remain the same.

Creating a Legacy of Landscape Restoration in Washington County – Guided Prairie Tour Near Withrow, Aug. 16

By: angiehongmn August 9, 2017

Yards and Landscapinghabitat restoration, prairie, Washington Conservation District, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

When Jyneen Thatcher decided to make a mid-life career change, she wasn’t quite sure where her new path would lead her. She enrolled in the landscape architecture program at the University of Minnesota, with an interest in natural resources restoration. “Most of the other students in the program were designing artistic features for urban landscapes,”…

How Do You Know if a Stream Is Healthy?

By: angiehongmn February 23, 2017

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanBrown's Creek Watershed District, clean water, streams, Valley Branch Watershed District, volunteer stream monitoring, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Collecting water quality data from streams is not nearly as easy as collecting data from lakes and rivers.

Students Plant 10 Acres of Prairie at St. Croix Prep

By: angiehongmn November 28, 2016

Keeping water clean, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingmiddle st. croix watershed management organization, prairie, St. Croix Prep, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Already, the teachers are coming up with creating ways to teach about biology, ecology, math, technology and art in the prairie.

Two Llamas and a Prairie

By: angiehongmn October 12, 2016

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Yards and Landscapingconservation, prairie, small farms, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

“For our 25th anniversary – the silver anniversary – we got a doe with silver ears and two baby goats.” Becky Vierling smiles as she talks about the small farm in Denmark Township that she and her husband Philip bought in 2003. When the Vierlings took on a more than 100-year old farm house with…

Join the PolliNATION

By: angiehongmn August 23, 2016

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingbees, birds, Blue Thumb, clean water, monarchs, native plants, pollinators, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Since your own lawn is small, you might be surprised to learn that turf grass covers more acres of land in the U.S. than the eight largest agricultural crops combined. Imagine what a difference it would make if all of us converted ¼ of our lawn to native plantings that provide habitat for pollinators, birds and wildlife.

Giants of the prairie

By: angiehongmn June 8, 2016

Wildlife, Yards and LandscapingBelwin Conservancy, bison, prairie, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

On Saturday, June 11, the ground in the Belwin prairie will again shake as a truck pulls up, opens its doors and releases a herd of bison with thundering hooves.

Conservation in the time of wrath

By: angiehongmn April 5, 2016

UncategorizedArtReach, Big Read, conservation, Dust Bowl, erosion control, Grapes of Wrath, trees, Washington Conservation DistrictLeave a Comment

Deep-rooted prairie grasses could find moisture during the driest of summers, but farm crops died quickly, leaving nothing behind but bare soil. During the ensuing Dust Bowl, clouds of dirt darkened the sun, burying homes and hopes in their wake.

All articles filed in Washington Conservation District

Elected Board at Washington Conservation District Provides Leadership Behind the Scenes