“Unfortunately, we’re seeing more and more people removing the vegetation along their shorelines and it’s causing a chain reaction in the aquatic food web that’s affecting fish, as well as insects and other wildlife," says Tom Langer, a biologist and riparian permit specialist with the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District.

From 2016 to 2023, the number of inspected watercraft In Washington County with drain plug violations dropped from 7% to 1%. This is an indication that watercraft inspections and AIS education programs are working. These watercraft inspectors have also blocked several boats from entering Big Marine Lake with zebra mussels attached.

There is a growing (pun intended?) movement across Minnesota as more and more people begin to think of their yards, not just as a place to relax and recreate, but also as a living landscape that can help to support wildlife and keep water clean. One group of people helping to fuel this movement is the Blue Thumb – Planting for Clean Water partnership, which was formed in 2007.

Learn about upcoming workshop, native plant retailers, garden templates, and other resources to help you go blue & green!

Critical period cutting shows promise as an herbicide-free control strategy. Research shows it is also important to replant woodlands with native trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses after removing buckthorn.

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There was a 28% increase in property values in northern Washington County in 2022.

What tools exist to help small towns grow in a way that protects natural resources and maintains a sense of community?

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In 2023, CMSCWD launched a comprehensive lakeshore protection and restoration program for the ten most popular lakes in the watershed district, developed stormwater treatment projects for Big Carnelian and Big Marine Lakes, and began planning for a future restoration project on Mill Stream in Marine on St. Croix.

Communities across the Twin Cities are currently waging a battle against time, as they work to curb the flow of salt into lakes, rivers, streams and groundwater before it’s too late.

Washington County is nearing the end of its current 10-year Groundwater Plan, and according to Stephanie Souter, Senior Program Manager with Washington County Public Health & Environment, “A lot has changed since 2014 – and I don’t just mean COVID.”

This year, Landfall is getting a big dose of flower power, thanks to Washington Conservation District and a grant from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources “Lawns to Legumes” program. The goal is to improve pollinator habitat and beautify the community.

In Chisago and Washington Counties, 100% of the water we drink comes from groundwater. Though few people think about it when they turn on the sink, the origins of this water are intricately woven into the history of the rocks and the land.

While individual shoreline property owners may not think their actions can influence water quality and aquatic life, the cumulative impact of a majority of neighbors developing these shorelines and removing vegetation and/or rocking the shore has an extensive impact.

How can you determine if your favorite local lake is safe for fishing and swimming? In Minnesota, the Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) works with local government and volunteers to monitor water quality in lakes, rivers, and streams, and maintains a list of water bodies that are “impaired” by one or more pollutants.

Today, the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System protects more than 13,000 miles of riverway in 226 rivers across the United States. The St. Croix is the only federally protected Wild and Scenic River in Minnesota and one of only two in Wisconsin.

If it feels like it never rains, it’s not your imagination. Rainfall data from May 15 – June 21 of this year show that Minnesota is experiencing all-time precipitation lows for all regions of the state. Even with the recent rain last weekend, yards and farm fields are brutally dry and turfgrass lawns are really showing the effects.

This spring, the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) and East Metro Water Education Program conducted a mailed survey and and facilitated small-group
conversations with lakeshore landowners on Big Carnelian Lake. We gained a wealth of information from both the survey and
our conversations. Here’s what you told us!