East Metro Water

At Pig’s Eye, hope and despair abound in equal measure

By: angiehongmn February 17, 2026February 17, 2026

Keeping water cleanDakota, featured, habitat restoration, Minnesota, Mississippi River, Pigs Eye, St. Paul, water pollutionLeave a Comment

Once, it was C̣hokáŋ Taŋka, the Dakota village of Kaposia, and a bountiful mecca for fishing, hunting, and gathering. Later, it was a highway of pollution, filled with human sewage, garbage, and carcasses from the local slaughterhouses. Today, it includes a regional park and DNR Scientific and Natural Area, surrounded by rail yards and heavy industry.

Black-led conservation: Stories from around the world

By: angiehongmn February 6, 2026February 6, 2026

UncategorizedBlack History month, conservation, featured, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

As we embark on the 100-year anniversary of Black History Month, explore examples of Black-led conservation from around the world – Botswana, Haiti, and Minnesota.

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency launches new SMART salt module for rural communities

By: angiehongmn January 31, 2026January 29, 2026

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updates, Uncategorizedchloride pollution, featured, Minnesota, MPCA, rural roads, salt, winterLeave a Comment

Road maintenance in rural communities like Grant and Stillwater Township is significantly different than in larger cities like Oakdale and Woodbury. A new rural roads training module aims to help small communities stretch their limited public works budgets while also protecting local lakes and streams from salt and sediment pollution.

Legacy Amendment is one of many things that Minnesota does well

By: angiehongmn January 23, 2026January 21, 2026

Keeping water clean, Local Achievements, Wildlifeclean water, featured, lakes, legacy amendment, wildlife habitatLeave a Comment

The Legacy Amendment has catalyzed significant improvements in Minnesota’s natural environment, including 184 lakes and streams delisted and more than 1 million acres of wildlife habitat protected or restored.

The Science of a Walk

By: angiehongmn January 15, 2026January 15, 2026

Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, mental health, nature, outdoors, snowshoeing, walking, winterLeave a Comment

Feeling stressed or anxious? Going for a walk is good for your body, mind, and soul. Additionally, research shows that the benefits are even greater if you’re able to take that walk outside in nature.

Echoes of a ghost town at Point Douglas

By: angiehongmn January 9, 2026January 7, 2026

Outdoor Adventuresfeatured, Mississippi River, Point Douglas, St. Croix RiverLeave a Comment

Though there are no buildings left to see, Point Douglas remains a unique location to see the confluence of two great rivers.

A time to gather in light, rest and renew

By: angiehongmn December 26, 2025December 22, 2025

Uncategorizedfeatured, solstice, winterLeave a Comment

The winter solstice is celebrated by many different cultures around the world with stories, festivities, and quiet moments of gathering, almost always filled with light. Though plants and animals don’t commemorate the winter solstice the same way as people, they do recognize and respond to the changes in warmth and daylight.

Finding frozen frogs

By: angiehongmn December 19, 2025December 16, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Wildlifefeatured, fish, frogs, lakes, Minnesota, salt, turtles, winter1 Comment

When the snow falls and lakes freeze over, Minnesota’s wildlife employ a variety of adaptations to stay alive.

Helping homeowner associations navigate stormwater and green infrastructure maintenance

By: angiehongmn December 12, 2025December 11, 2025

Keeping water clean, Partners and Updatesfeatured, green infrastructure, HOA, Homeowners Associations, lawn care, stormwaterLeave a Comment

The East Metro Water Education Program (EMWREP) and University of Minnesota have worked together to develop an education toolkit and launch a three-part Stormwater Leadership Series for HOA board members, which was piloted tis spring5.

Try chicken grit as an eco-friendly alternative to salt

By: angiehongmn December 5, 2025December 1, 2025

Aquatic Biology, Keeping water cleanchicken grit, chloride, featured, salt, winterLeave a Comment

One way that homeowners, businesses, HOAs, and community organizations can help to reduce water pollution from winter salt is by using chicken grit as a no-salt alternative.