Help Improve Water Quality and Pollinator Habitat of the St. Croix

A lot of work took place in 2020 to set the stage for water quality improvements in Marine on St. Croix. Take a walk north along Highway 95 and look at the work the Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District (CMSCWD) did to stabilize the eroding Marine Landing Creek ravine. Who can miss the large stormwater basins on the west edge of the village center, and the top of the path down to the river behind The General Store?

It may not look so beautiful right now, but the best part of the project comes next and the Watershed District is asking for your help.

CMSCWD, along with the Washington Conservation District, the Minnesota Conservation Corp and community volunteers will be planting more than 15,000 native plants, trees, and shrubs in 2021 and 2022. This huge planting effort will transform the clearings and basins into beautiful nature areas capable of capturing millions of gallons of stormwater and the pollutants it carries. Deep-rooted plants will then help the water infiltrate into the soil, reducing erosion and preventing runoff from reaching the river while greatly increasing pollinator habitat.

The first 4,000 plants will be installed in June and July of 2021 in the Marine Ravine. Volunteers are needed. If you are interested in helping, please contact Bobbie Law at the Watershed District by calling 651-433-2150 or emailing bobbie.law@cmscwd.org.