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ABOUT GREEN NOTES
GreenNotes covers environmental news, programs and events from Hennepin County.
Please take a few moments to read our stories. Share your feedback and ideas for protecting the environment.
Get a link for sharing Green Notes in email and social media by checking out the archived issues.
Email Hennepin Environment
Please forward this email to interested individuals and encourage them to sign up.
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 Funding is available through the Green Partners Environmental Education program for projects that empower residents to reduce waste, recycle, reduce household hazardous waste, conserve energy, protect natural resources, and improve air and water quality. Eligible organizations include nonprofit organizations, community groups, park districts and schools. Participating organizations receive funding, resources, and training to provide environmental education.
Green Partners project proposals are due May 20, 2016, and projects will begin in September 2016. Learn more and apply.
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Information meetings
Attend an information meeting to get more information and feedback on your project ideas:
- Tuesday, May 3 from 10 to 11 a.m. at the Brookdale Library in study room 1
- Tuesday, May 3 from 1 to 2 p.m. at the East Lake Library in the conference room
For more information, contact Patience Caso at 612-348-9352 or patience.caso@hennepin.us
 Hennepin County recently awarded four grants for projects that will prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS). The projects will increase education, enhance early detection efforts, expand inspections and support research.
Funding for the grants comes from State of Minnesota, which began providing funding in 2014 to all Minnesota counties to implement plants to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Grants were awarded for the following projects:
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- Eagle Lake Preservation Association to sponsor a limnologist to inspect up to eight lakes throughout the county. The inspections will be conducted alongside lakeshore property owners who will be trained in how to detect possible new and emerging aquatic invasive species.
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Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to continue a study with Montana State University and the University of Minnesota on the occurrence and distribution of watermilfoil genotypes on Lake Minnetonka.
- Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to collaborate with the University of Minnesota to conduct field research on strategies to control population growth rates of zebra mussels.
- Three Rivers Park District to expand watercraft inspections and outreach activities to encourage boaters to take action to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
In addition to awarding grants, Hennepin County will retain some of the AIS Prevention Aid funding to raise awareness of aquatic invasive species by installing programmable message boards at highly visible locations around Lake Minnetonka, supporting a Clean, Drain, Dry campaign, and increasing awareness among aquarium hobbyists, backyard pond owners, and water gardeners about the importance of not releasing unwanted fish or aquatic plants.
Learn more about the grants awarded.
Initial results of watermilfoil study finds variety of hybrid species in Lake Minnetonka
In 2015, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District received a grant from Hennepin County to partner with the University of Minnesota and Montana State University to study milfoil types and management methods in Lake Minnetonka. The results of their research found that:
- Hybrid watermilfoil is present and common in
bays of Lake Minnetonka in addition to the introduced Eurasian watermilfoil.
- Native northern watermilfoil was only found in
non-treated bays and Christmas Lake, particularly in water shallower than 6
feet. No northern watermilfoil was found in the treated bays.
- Hybrid watermilfoil is more common in bays with
intensive herbicide management than in bays and lakes with less intensive
management, and there appear to be distinct hybrid genotypes in some bays.
Additional research and analysis of previously collected
samples is needed. This further study will aim to determine if management is
selecting for hybrids, if some or many hybrid genotypes are more resistant to
control, and if strategies can be improved to manage pure Eurasian and hybrid
watermilfoils. The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District received a 2016 AIS prevention grant to continue this research.
For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or
612-348-4378.
 The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners recently adopted a resolution declaring Hennepin County a pollinator-friendly county. Pollinating insects are critical to healthy ecosystems and food systems but are threatened by habitat loss and pesticide use.
The resolution confirms the county’s commitment to pollinator-friendly practices by implementing sustainable landscaping and integrated pest management policies, limiting the use of systemic insecticides, and encouraging residents, schools, organizations and businesses to implement pollinator-friendly practices. Learn more about steps you can take to protect pollinators.
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Many
cities offer spring clean-up events for residents to properly dispose of common,
hard-to-get-rid-of household items such as appliances, electronics, furniture
and more. Hennepin County has a list of upcoming city clean-up events. Check
with your city for details on accepted items, fees, times and locations before
the clean-up event.
 Hennepin County is selling compost bins to help you start composting your fruit and vegetable scraps and yard waste in your backyard. Bins are 3’ x 3’ x 3’, made of cedar and wire mesh, and cost $45.
Pre-order a compost bin for pick up at a distribution event scheduled for:
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- Saturday, May 14 at the Minneapolis Tool Library in NE Minneapolis
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Saturday, May 21 at the Midtown Farmer’s Market in Minneapolis
Compost bins are also for sale at the Hennepin County Drop-off Facility in Brooklyn Park during regular facility hours; no pre-order needed.
For more information, contact Kira Berglund at kira.berglund@hennepin.us or 612-596-1498.
Students and community partners celebrated Earth Day by planting more than 30 trees in a new gravel-bed nursery in North High School's courtyard. The project engaged students in interactive learning about urban forestry and will provide the school a cost-effective way to replace ash trees that will eventually need to be removed due to the emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest that infests and kills ash trees. In gravel-bed nurseries, young, bare-root saplings are planted in the spring, grow and develop a good root system throughout the summer, and are ready to be transplanted to their final growing location in the fall.
Students in an agriculturally focused course at North High assisted in selecting the tree species and installing them in the gravel-bed, and students will plant the trees throughout North High’s campus in the fall. The project was planned and implemented through a partnership of North High School, Hennepin County, the City of Minneapolis, and Project Sweetie Pie.
Hennepin County celebrates Earth Day in the community
In addition to helping at North High School, Hennepin County staff and volunteers celebrated Earth Day by giving recycling presentations at nine schools, providing information about actions people can take to protect the environment at nine community events, and promoting environmental actions and resources on our social media channels. Learn more about our environmental education resources and programs. We hope you had a happy Earth Day!
In the News
Events
 Trees provide a variety of benefits, including improving air and water quality, providing shade and wildlife habitat, increasing property values, and improving our health. Arbor Day began in 1972 with J. Sterling Morton’s idea to set aside a special day for tree planting. Celebrate Arbor Day this year by planting your own tree or attending one of the following Arbor Day events:
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Find more information about Arbor Day, resources for planting trees and more at www.arborday.org.
Fix-It Clinics provide an opportunity to receive free, guided assistance from handy volunteers on disassembling, troubleshooting and repairing small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more.
Upcoming Fix-It Clinics are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
- Saturday, May 14 from noon to 4 p.m. at Gramercy Park Cooperative in Richfield
- Saturday, June 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at Crystal Community Center
- Saturday, July 16 from noon to 4 p.m. at Minneapolis Community & Technical College in the H Building (Helland Center)
Volunteer fixers who have skills in electrical, mechanical or electronics repair, wood working, sewing or general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful. For more information or to volunteer, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.
 Hennepin County organizes collection events to give residents more convenient local options for disposing of household hazardous wastes. Materials accepted include unwanted automotive wastes, household, lawn and garden products, batteries, mercury-containing items and more.
Collection events are held Thursday - Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Upcoming hazardous waste collection events are scheduled for the following dates and locations:
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- May 12 – 14 at the Public Works Department in Minnetonka
- June 2 – 4 at the Public Works Garage in Minneapolis
- June 16 – 18 at St. Louis Park Middle School in St. Louis Park
Get more details including directions to each event and a full schedule of events for 2016.
The Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission will hold a public hearing at its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at 11:30 a.m. to receive comments on a minor plan amendment to its Third Generation Watershed Management Plan. The proposed minor plan amendment will add five new projects to the plan’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP), revise the cost of another project already in the CIP, and shift the schedule and Elm Creek Watershed Management Commission’s associated funding of five other projects already in the CIP. The projects will restore and protect local water resources. The hearing will be held at the Maple Grove City Hall, 12800 Arbor Lakes Parkway.
Green Tip
With the weather warming up, trees budding and flowers
blooming, many people are getting out in their yards to get ready for summer. The
actions we take at home can impact nearby lakes, rivers and wetlands, and we
can all take steps with our spring yard care to prevent pollution and protect
water quality. Follow these four simple steps to protect water this spring:
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Keep
leaves and grass clippings out of storm drains. Keep your leaves, grass clippings and other yard
waste out of the streets and gutters. Compost your yard waste or dispose of it at
a yard waste drop-off site or through your waste hauler. Learn more.
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Clean
your gutters and redirect your downspouts. Point your downspouts somewhere
that will allow the stormwater to soak into the ground. Make sure gutters and
downspouts are clear of leaves, twigs and other debris. Low-lying spots in your
yard that is consistently soggy could be a good place for a rain garden or
swale.
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Pick up
your pet’s waste (before it rains). Pick up your pet’s waste early and
often. Be especially vigilant when there’s rain in the forecast. Remember:
anything you don’t clean up in your yard will end up in the storm drains.
Dispose of pet waste in the garbage.
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Wash your
car at a commercial car wash. When you wash your car at home, the soapy,
dirty water running down your driveway can end up in a storm drain that flows
directly into a nearby river, lake or wetland. Instead of washing your car at
home, take it to a car wash, where companies are required to dispose of their
wastewater properly, ensuring that it’s cleaned and treated.
Learn
more steps you can take to protect water.
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