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Hennepin County receives about $300,000 a year from the State of Minnesota to protect lakes, rivers and streams by preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species. The following innovative programs are being supported through a grant program the county started with the state funding. For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.
User-operated cleaning stations
 New, user-operated watercraft cleaning stations will be available at several locations in the county to give boaters the tools they need to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
The stations, located at Spring Lake Park and North Arm on Lake Minnetonka and Bryant Lake and Riley Lake in Eden Prairie are part of a pilot project created in partnership with Wildlife Forever, CD3, Initiative Foundation, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Three Rivers Park District.
Although boaters are generally aware of aquatic invasive species, they often lack the tools and specific knowledge to prevent their spread. Boaters can use the CD3 cleaning stations to learn the best management practices of cleaning, draining and drying their watercraft and disposing of bait. The stations include compressed air, a wet/dry vacuum, marine lights and a series of low-tech, cable-tethered tools. See the cleaning stations in action on Kare11 and learn more in the Southwest Journal.
Aquatic invasive species lake surveys
Hennepin County in partnership with Fortin Consulting, Inc. has been working with 16 lake associations to complete an aquatic invasive species lake survey. Several homeowners on each lake are paired up with a limnologist from Fortin to look for aquatic invasive species in their lake, focusing mainly on species not already widespread in Hennepin County. Monitoring equipment and training are available for residents interested in continuing early detection monitoring. So far, no new or uncommon aquatic invasive species have been identified, which is good news for our lakes.
 August is peak growing season in Minnesota, which means many farmers have excess produce that will spoil before the next market opportunity. Although hunger relief agencies partner with markets to rescue produce and divert it to food shelves, there is still an overabundance of fresh vegetables this time of year that end up at a composting facility or in the trash.
Knowing that food shelves are in desperate need of ready-to-use produce in the winter, Hennepin County partnered with Chef Chris Loew of Taher Inc. and the Food Group to rescue, prepare and freeze leftover vegetables for distribution in the winter.
At the end of the Minneapolis Farmers Market on four Sundays this summer, the group selected, washed, cut, cooked, packaged and froze excess produce so it can be stored and distributed to food shelves and meal programs throughout Minnesota and Wisconsin during winter months when produce is in short supply. About 2,400 pounds of produce was rescued and is now ready for distribution this winter thanks to volunteers who donated 160 hours of their time.
For more information, contact Nancy Lo at nancy.lo@hennepin.us or 612-348-9195.
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 Emerald ash borer, an invasive tree pest from Asia that attacks and kills ash trees, was found for the first time in Brooklyn Park in August. The tree pest was also detected for the first time in Martin County in southern Minnesota, meaning that 16 counties in Minnesota now have an emerald ash borer infestation.
Ash trees are a common urban landscaping tree. There are more than 1 million ash trees in yards, parks and streets in Hennepin County making up about 15 percent of the tree canopy. Most residents of Hennepin County live within 15 miles of an infested ash tree, which means that if you have ash trees on your property, it’s time to start thinking about what you’re going to do with those trees. Learn more about your options in the county’s managing emerald ash borer brochure.
For more information, contact Dustin Ellis at dustin.ellis@hennepin.us or 612-348-2259.
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Grants available for contaminated land cleanup
Grants are available for the assessment and cleanup of contaminated sites through the Environmental Response Fund. The grants are used for a variety of activities that provide community benefit, including assessment and cleanup of groundwater and contaminated soil, and evaluation and abatement of asbestos and lead-based paint. Priority is placed on locations that establish affordable and moderately priced housing, are intended as public or green spaces, and promote economic development.
Redeveloping brownfields, or sites where redevelopment is complicated by the presence or potential presence of contamination, has numerous economic, environmental and community benefits. Brownfield redevelopment creates jobs, supports local economic growth and investment, and expands the tax base. Redeveloped properties also revitalize neighborhoods, reduce threats to public health, increase property values, and improve air and water quality. Learn more in the 2017 Benefits of Brownfield Redevelopment in Minnesota report.
Applications for 2017 Environmental Response Fund grants are due November 1. Learn more and apply.
School recycling grants awarded
 Hennepin County recently awarded 10 grants totaling more than $140,000 to schools and school districts to reduce waste and improve recycling and organics recycling programs. Grant recipients include three public school districts, four charter schools, and three private schools. Grants were awarded to schools in Brooklyn Park, Edina, Golden Valley, Minneapolis and Richfield. Learn about the grants awarded.
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Environmental education grants awarded
 Green Partners environmental education grants totaling $153,500 were recently awarded to 11 organizations to work with their audiences to take action to protect the environment. The groups will engage more than 3,700 residents in reducing waste, recycling, organics recycling, composting, conserving energy, improving air and water quality, and protecting pollinators. Projects will engage residents throughout the county. Six projects will work with underserved and hard-to-reach communities, and seven of the projects will engage youth. Learn about the projects awarded.
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Natural resources opportunity grants awarded
Natural resources opportunity grants are available at any time for entities seeking funding for larger projects that leverage multiple funding sources.
The county recently awarded $20,000 to the City of Medina to implement stormwater best management practices to reduce sediment and phosphorous going into Lake Ardmore. Improvements include gully stabilization, an iron-enhanced sand filter, a pond expansion, shoreline restoration and stream stabilization. The project leverages over $140,000 in local contributions and a planned Clean Water, Land and Legacy proposal.
The Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission was also awarded $59,500 to stabilize 2,200 feet of eroding ravine in Baker Park Reserve to reduce phosphorus going into Lake Independence. The project will leverage $460,500 in local contributions and a planned Clean Water, Land, and Legacy proposal.
 Hennepin County offers tours of the Brooklyn Park Drop-off Facility for adults and youth participants 2nd grade and older to learn about waste reduction, recycling, and household hazardous waste. The interactive tour is linked with state education standards. Tours are available year-round in a newly updated visitor center. Tours require four weeks advance notice. Learn more and plan a tour.
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 Hennepin County sells compost bins to help residents start recycling their fruit and vegetable scraps and yard waste into valuable compost right at home.
There is still time to pre-order a compost bin for pickup at an upcoming distribution event. Distribution events are scheduled for Monday, September 11 in Plymouth, Thursday, September 14 in north Minneapolis, and Saturday, September 30 in Edina.
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 About a dozen horse stable managers recently attended a field day to learn how Joanie Stene of Foxwood Farm in Dayton worked with Hennepin County to redesign her stable and pasture system to improve water quality in a nearby wetland as well as protect the health of her horses.
Educators and conservationists from the University of Minnesota Extension and Hennepin County discussed how stormwater runoff pollutes nearby lakes, streams and wetlands with excess nutrients like phosphorous, and how small reductions can add up to a big impact in protecting water quality.
Stene discussed how she worked with the county to plan improvements, such as starting composting, rotational grazing, and tiled and grassed waterways, and find cost-share options to make the project more affordable. She said she’s seen the payoff of this project already in having safer and less muddy pastures for her horses and knowing she’s protecting a nearby Three Rivers Parks wetland.
For more information, contact Karl Hakanson at khakanso@umn.edu or 612-624-7948 or Jim Kujawa at james.kujawa@hennepin.us or 612-348-7338![]( "Call: 612-348-7338") .
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Zero Waste Challenge families make progress toward a low-waste lifestyle
Several families in the first group of Hennepin County’s Zero Waste Challenge recently shared their stories about the impact of their participation. Overall, participating households reduced their trash by 20 percent.
 The DeCamillis family in St. Louis Park - already good recyclers and thoughtful about reducing waste - said the program opened their eyes to what more they could be doing. They started participating in an organics recycling program to divert food waste, napkins, paper towels and more to composting, started using green cleaners, and have tried to reduce the amount of plastic packaging coming into their household. Read more in the Star Tribune.
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 Sheri Selton from Crystal said the challenge was good motivation to take action on things she’s been wanting to do, like recycling more and starting composting. She said the challenge provided an opportunity for her kids, who recycle and compost at school, to be leaders in the household. Attending workshops helped her learn new habits, such as avoiding packaging at the grocery store and worm composting, and she found that making recycling as convenient as possible is key to her success. Read more in the Sun Post.
The county plans to continue to hold the challenge with 30 to 50 families each year, and the next group is starting in September.
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 The choices you make with the goods you buy and use can help protect the environment and the local economy.
Did you know that an estimated 3 billion toys are sold in the U.S. every year, about 70 pounds of clothing and textile are thrown away per person per year in the U.S., and reusable mugs can help American keep 25 billion cups out of the trash each year?
Hennepin County Choose to Reuse makes it easier for you to refill, rewear, replay and repair your goods by partnering with local reuse retailers to offer discounts through October.
- Rewear with discounts at thrift shops and consignment stores.
- Replay with a membership discount at the Minneapolis Toy Library and savings at children’s reuse retailers and used music and book stores.
- Refill with reusable mug discounts at local coffee shops.
- Repair your outdoor and recreation equipment, bikes, vacuums and more.
- Reuse more with coupons for antique stores, rentals, and home goods retailers.
Learn how to get coupons on your phone or in print.
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