wildlife habitat – East Metro Water

Meet our 2025 Natural Shoreline Award winners!

We are excited to announce the winners of our inaugural Natural Shoreline Awards, sponsored by the East Metro Water Resource Education Program and Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership. These awards recognize Minnesotans who are protecting lake, stream, and wetland habitat in Chisago, Isanti, Ramsey and Washington Counties.

Flowers bloom in the shadow of a great white bear

By: angiehongmn September 5, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Partners and Updatesfeatured, Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota lakes, rice creek watershed district, Washington Conservation District, water conservation, White Bear Lake, wildlife habitat1 Comment

White Bear is a lake with a storied past. At 2438 acres, it is the second largest lake in the Twin Cities metro, and its history features a legendary fight with a giant bear, steamships, gangsters, famous authors, legal battles, and even an amusement park. Recently, efforts led by the Washington Conservation District have focused on improving habitat and reducing stormwater runoff from small communities located along the southeast shore of the lake.

Mississippi River – Looking forward, looking back

By: angiehongmn June 6, 2025June 4, 2025

Keeping water clean, Uncategorizeddams, dead zone, featured, Mississippi River, nitrogen, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

The Mississippi tops American Rivers’ list of Most Endangered Rivers. And yet, as we look toward the future, there are reasons to remain optimistic.

Learn more and find ways to engage during “Mississippi River Days of Action” on June 1 – 15.

Do you caribou?

By: angiehongmn January 11, 2024January 9, 2024

Wildlifecaribou, climate change, featured, forests, Minnesota, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

In the early 1800s, caribou were the most widespread species of the deer family in the northern forests of what is now Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Canada. Since then, wildlife species in Minnesota have changes dramatically as a result of logging, loss of prairie and wetlands, invasive species, and climate changes.

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.

Gophers and muskrats, oh why?

By: angiehongmn July 30, 2020July 28, 2020

Wildlife, Yards and Landscapingfeatured, gophers, muskrats, native landscaping, prairie, shoreline plantings, Wildlife, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

In a native planting or restored prairie, however, gophers should be considered a friend. Yes, the prairie will be bumpy instead of flat, but nature tends to be that way.

Friends of Sunfish Lake Park lands $139,000 grant to manage buckthorn

By: angiehongmn June 18, 2020June 16, 2020

Buckthorn, Partners and Updatesbuckthorn, featured, Lake Elmo, Minnesota DNR, native plants, Outdoor Heritage Fund, Sunfish Lake Park, wildlife habitat, woodland wildflowers, woodlandsLeave a Comment

This summer, Friends of Sunfish Lake Park secured a $139,000 grant from the Minnesota Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program to remove buckthorn and restore native plants in 40 acres of the park. The City of Lake Elmo will contribute $10,000 to the project and volunteers will provide at least 300 hours of in-kind support as well.

A Modern Day Tale of Tortoise and Hare

By: angiehongmn May 29, 2020May 26, 2020

WildlifeBig Marine Park Reserve, biking, Blanding's turtle, featured, Habitat, turtle crossing, turtles, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

As I rounded the corner, I hit the gas and pedaled harder knowing the other bike was probably close behind. Perhaps he’d seen pigtails sticking out from beneath my helmet and thought it would be easy to catch a girl. Little did he know that I am quick like a rabbit.

Ode to a an old dead log

By: angiehongmn January 18, 2020January 17, 2020

Wildlifefeatured, trees, wildlife habitat1 Comment

Driving down a country road last week, I turned to gaze at a lone tree in the west that always stands so firmly, silhouetted against the evening sky. On this night, however, one half of the tree lay sprawled across a nearby farm field, toppled over by wind or age. “How sad,” I thought to…

Orangutans, sun bears, and elephants – oh my!

By: angiehongmn June 17, 2019June 17, 2019

Outdoor Adventures, WildlifeBorneo, endangered species, Malaysia, orangutans, pygmy elephants, rainforests, Sabah, Sukau Rainforest Lodge, travel, wildlife habitat2 Comments

Three days in Malaysian Borneo “I think that we are the luckiest people in the world,” my son announced as he tossed me an impish smile from the front of our boat. Yesterday, we’d been thrilled to find a pygmy elephant down by the river’s edge – our guide said it was the first he’d…