|
May is Arbor Month, a chance to celebrate all of the benefits that trees provide and recognize the important role they play in fighting climate change.
The county’s community forestry program includes many initiatives to plant and care for trees to enhance the benefits they provide.
Tree sale and plantings
 This spring, the county sold more than 6,000 seedling trees to property owners to restore and improve woodland areas and increase wildlife habitat. That’s nearly double the number of trees sold in 2022! The county also provided nearly 500 trees to cities at wholesale prices.
Hennepin County foresters also plant trees on public property in the spring and the fall. Foresters will be planting 2,000 trees from the county’s gravel-bed nursery and 36,000 seedlings throughout the county this year.
A few notable plantings this spring include:
- Planting more than 20,000 seedlings of 22 different species types on a conservation easement in Independence.
- Partnering with the community and Northside Safety NET interns to plant 40 trees, many pollinator shrubs, and seedlings on a site in the Homewood community in north Minneapolis. The planting plan was guided by input from the community.
- Working alongside Adult Corrections staff and Sentencing to Serve (STS) tree planting crews on additional plantings throughout the county.
Healthy tree canopy grants
Grants for tree plantings, tree inventories, and education are available to cities, affordable housing properties, schools, and nonprofit organizations. In 2022, the county awarded $400,000 to support forestry work in nine cities, 10 affordable housing properties, four schools, and five nonprofit organizations. Applications for the 2023 grant round are currently being accepted through June 8.
Tree credits
In May, the county board approved the Hennepin County Tree Credits initiative, in which Hennepin County will partner with City Forest Credits and Green Minneapolis to facilitate the sale of carbon credits from trees planted on county property. The proceeds will be reinvested into planting and maintaining more trees.
The county hopes this initiative can be a model for other local governments to pursue to bolster funding for their tree planting efforts.
Progress toward 1 million trees
The Hennepin County Climate Action Plan established a goal of planting 1 million trees in the county by 2030. Hennepin County forestry and partner organizations has reached one-quarter of this goal in just three years!
|
 Volunteer in your community and gain knowledge in waste prevention, recycling, and composting by becoming a Community Recycling Ambassador (formerly known as Master Recycler/Composter).
Community Recycling Ambassadors learn effective communication skills through a free, six-week course taught by industry experts and community leaders. They then commit to volunteering 30 hours putting their skills to work on projects and activities that minimize waste and provide waste reduction, recycling and composting education.
The summer 2023 class will be held every Thursday from June 15 through July 27 (no class July 6) from noon to 2 p.m. The class will take place virtually via Zoom. Apply for the summer class by Monday, June 5.
Through legislative advocacy efforts, Hennepin County seeks to advance policy that protects the environment through responsible management of waste and natural resources and promotion of environmental stewardship. Each year, the county adopts a legislative platform to prioritize policy initiatives. With the 2023 legislative session wrapped up, here’s a look back on the county’s priorities and highlights from this year.
Responsibly managing waste
The county supports increasing funding for waste reduction and recycling programs, expanding organics composting and anaerobic digestions initiatives, and developing markets for recycled materials. The county also supports the Partnership on Waste and Energy’s 2023 legislative platform as well as legislation to establish extended producer responsibility for packaging, paper products, and single-use products.
2023 legislative highlights
- The state bonding bill included $26 million for the county’s proposed anaerobic digestion facility that would turn food scraps into clean energy and support expanding organics recycling programs.
- 3% of solid waste management tax revenues will be shifted from the state general fund to counties through SCORE grants to fund waste reduction and recycling programs.
- More than $25 million in one-time grants was allocated for waste reduction and recycling initiatives.
- The Partnership on Waste and Energy worked on a range of waste policy, including support of PFAS prohibitions in consumer products.
- An extended producer responsibility bill was not introduced this year, and work will continue to build a broad coalition of support for this policy.
Protecting natural resources
The county supports policies and funding to protect and enhance the tree canopy and preserve habitat.
2023 legislative highlights
- More than $15 million was allocated for tree planting through the ReLeaf program.
- Funding was allocated to manage wood waste to respond to the impacts of emerald ash borer.
- The county was awarded funding through the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund to permanently protect natural areas with conservation easements and restore habitat.
Taking action on climate change
The county supports policies that align with the county’s Climate Action Plan.
2023 legislative highlights
- Requirement for the Met Council to complete a greenhouse gas emissions impact assessment and set reduction targets for transportation.
- Requirements and resources for energy benchmarking of commercial buildings.
Commercial buildings can reduce their carbon footprint and improve their bottom line by investing in renewable energy or making energy efficiency upgrades such as new windows, lights, or HVAC systems.
Hennepin County works with MinnPACE to offer an innovative financing tool that allows property owners to invest in energy efficiency and/or renewable energy upgrades with no upfront costs. Payments are rolled into a special tax assessment made payable twice a year for up to 20 years as part of the building owner’s property taxes. Utility savings exceed payment obligations, making investments cash-positive for property owners and tenants.
Office buildings, manufacturing facilities, multifamily housing properties, buildings owned by nonprofit organizations, and place of worship are all eligible.
Learn more about how MinnPACE works and how to get a project started.
Turn your environmental ideas into reality! Natural Resources Opportunity Grants are available for larger projects to improve water quality or preserve, establish, or restore natural areas. These grants are ideal for projects seeking to leverage multiple funding sources, and applicants are encouraged to use these funds as required match for other funding sources.
The Plymouth Creek Restoration project, funded in part by a Hennepin County Opportunity Grant, reduces erosion and improves water quality in the creek and Medicine Lake.
Typical projects include:
- Stormwater management practices like rain gardens, permeable pavement, or rainwater reuse
- Streambank, lakeshore, and channel stabilizations
- Protection or reestablishment of native vegetation, such as woodland and prairie restorations
Learn about past Opportunity Grant projects by exploring the natural resources story map.
Apply for a grant
To apply, see the Opportunity Grants guidelines (PDF), then submit applications (DOCX) to Ellen Sones at ellen.sones@hennepin.us by Thursday, July 20.
Opportunity Grant online workshop
Thursday, June 15 from 3:30 to 4:40 p.m.
Learn more about the program and applications requirements at an upcoming online workshop. RSVP is required. A recording will be available for those who cannot attend.
Grants, workshops, coaching, and planting guides are available to residents to increase pollinator habitat through the Lawns to Legumes program, offered by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and Blue Thumb. Up to $350 in cost-share funding can be used to plant a pocket planting, pollinator lawn or meadow, or pollinator-friendly trees or shrubs next spring. Learn more and apply by June 30.
|
Exploring home improvement thrift stores during the salvage crawl
 Recently, WCCO went on a mini salvage crawl, visiting three home improvement reuse retailers in south Minneapolis that participated in Hennepin County’s Salvage Crawl.
-
Wood from the Hood reclaims wood locally and turns it into new products, including cutting boards, cribbage boards, and natural-edge wood slabs.
-
Better Futures Minnesota reclaims and resells home furnishings, giving flooring, cabinets, lighting, appliances, and more a second life. They have a two-pronged mission of providing employment for men with a history of incarceration and advancing environmental stewardship.
-
Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a home improvement outlet that sells items like lighting, furniture, fixtures, hardware, and recycled paint to support Habitat for Humanity’s efforts to build homes.
Shopping at salvage retailers like these helps reduce the climate and environmental impact of building materials, supports small businesses, and saves money.
Fix-It Clinics successful at repairing items, opening eyes, building community, and generating excitement
 At a recent Hennepin County Fix-It Clinic, residents brought a variety of broken household items – a toaster, typewriter, hair dryer, sewing machine, vacuum cleaner, sculpture, video game, and more – in hopes of repairing their items and keeping them out of the trash. Volunteers contribute their experience and skills as engineers, electricians, crafters, sewers, mechanics, and more to helping residents learn how to troubleshoot and repair items.
Though Fix-It Clinics are highly successful – more than 80% of times brought in are repaired – there are many additional benefits. They open people’s eyes to the idea that things can be repaired, they build community, and they create a lot of fun, excitement, and satisfaction. Read more in the Star Tribune.
 May is Bike Month, a good time to explore all the ways you can use a bike to get to work you live, work, and play. About one-third of greenhouse gas emissions in Hennepin County comes from transportation. Biking is a zero-emission, healthy, and fun way to get from point A to B.
With more than 800 miles of bikeways, you can connect to services, businesses, and world-class parks all across Hennepin County. Some ideas to add to your summer list:
-
Visit a library: Several Hennepin County libraries are located along bike trails, including the Golden Valley Library off the Luce Line Trail, the Excelsior Library off the Lake Minnetonka Regional Trail, and the Webber Park Library off Victory Memorial Parkway.
-
Explore a park: Three Rivers Park District offers regional parks that are great to bike to, hike in, and explore. Consider visiting Bryant Lake Regional Park in Eden Prairie, Crow-Hassan Park Reserve in Rogers, or Gale Woods Farm in Minnetrista. There are also several bike parks in Minneapolis where you can hone your skills.
-
Get off-road: There are many options to get off-road and onto dirt mountain bike trails, including at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Champlin, Lake Rebecca in Rockford, Lone Lake Park in Minnetonka, and Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.
-
Cruise the Greenway: The 5.5-mile bikeway connecting the Minneapolis Chain of Lakes to the Mississippi River is highlighted as a hall of fame trail by the Rails to Trails Conservancy.
-
Connect to transit: Expand your biking options by using transit – you are always welcome to bring your bike on trains or put it on the bike rack on buses.
Explore all the places you can go on a bike with Hennepin County’s bike map.
|
