 Hennepin County has an abundance of natural resources that serve as the foundation for a high quality of life. To protect these resources, Hennepin County has the unique role of fulfilling the duties of a soil and water conservation district, meaning the county takes the lead on providing services that improve natural resources on privately owned land.
Evolving work with a consistent mission
These services have been available to Hennepin County residents for 75 years, starting in 1949 when the Hennepin Conservation District was founded with a focus on offering technical assistance to farmers.
Although a lot has evolved in our approach to conservation work, our guiding star has remained protecting the environment in a prioritized and cost-effective way to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations.
Our current priorities include:
Planting and caring for trees
The county is committed to planting a diverse, resilient and equitable tree canopy. And we’re making great progress – we’re over one-third of the way toward achieving our climate action goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030.
Protecting and improving habitat
The county has secured more than $9 million from the state’s Outdoor Heritage Fund in recent years in partnership with the Minnesota Land Trust. This funding is used to establish conservation easements and complete restoration projects to expand the benefits these ecosystems provide.
Improving water quality
Making significant water quality improvements requires sustained, long-term, partnership-based investments. The county takes a data-driven approach to identify specific sources of pollution and invest in the highest impact solutions.
Working collaboratively to achieve our goals
The county works with residents throughout the county to provide habitat for pollinators, protect water, and engage youth in environmental education. We also work closely with our partners to align our goals and priorities and advance a unified vision for natural resources protection.
Partnering with landowners in this work provides benefits for everyone in the county is foundational to achieving our climate action goals. Learn more about the history and future of conservation in Hennepin County.
Hennepin County is developing a food waste prevention plan and is seeking feedback on strategies being that will reduce wasted food and help us meet our big goals.
Before we finalize the plan, we need your input! Please take our short survey to share your level of support for various strategies as well as your thoughts, concerns, or additional ideas.
Thank you! Your assistance is crucial to helping the county prevent wasted food and make progress toward our zero-waste and climate-action goals.
 Local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, institutions, and businesses in Hennepin County can apply now for funding to implement projects that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Grant funding can be used to address pathways of aquatic invasive species introduction, provide education, promote behavior change, implement early detection and rapid response efforts, and pursue other ideas that prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Applications are due by Thursday, January 14, 2025. Learn more and apply.
 In October, partners and volunteers from the City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota Green Corps, and the Life Time Foundation helped Hennepin County foresters plant 3,500 trees at Westwood Hills Nature Center in St. Louis Park.
Trees and forests provide many benefits, including improving our air and water, making us and our communities healthier, reducing the urban heat island, providing wildlife habitat, saving energy, and increasing property values.
County foresters planted about 21,850 trees throughout the county in 2024, moving us closer to achieving our climate-action goal of planting 1 million trees by 2030 with the help of cities, partners, and residents.
Several of Hennepin County’s environmental programs received achievement awards from the National Association of Counties this year. The following programs were recognized for exemplifying innovation in county government programs.
Environmental Education Network
 Hennepin County coordinates an environmental education network that is free and open to anyone working to engage their community in learning about and taking action to protect the environment. The network has quarterly meetings, a monthly newsletter, and a Facebook group to provide opportunities for environmental educators to learn about environmental topics, share resources and project ideas, and connect.
Apartment Recycling Champions
Hennepin County piloted the Apartment Recycling Champions program in 2023 to address barriers to improving recycling at multifamily properties that face environmental justice challenges. The program recruits residents to become trusted messengers and deliver culturally relevant information about recycling for their neighbors.
In its first year, 17 residents were paid for six months to distribute education materials, monitor trash and recycling areas for contamination, respond to resident questions, set up recycling bins in their buildings' common areas, and educate and inspire their neighbors to reduce waste and recycle more.
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Homewood Neighborhood tree planting
 Hennepin County partnered with NorthSide Safety NET interns on a tree planting project for a 2-acre vacant lot at the intersection of 8th and Washburn Avenue North in the Homewood Neighborhood of north Minneapolis. Hennepin County foresters supported a student-led tree planting design and community engagement process that culminated in a community planting of 45 bareroot trees and 200 seedlings. The lot was transformed into a small arboretum that showcases climate resilient tree species with educational signs sharing unique tree facts. Learn more about the Homewood neighborhood tree planting project.
Find quality used goods at holiday markets and sales
The holiday shopping and gift-giving season is upon us, which means an abundance of local business sales, holiday markets, and other opportunities to buy used! See our Choose to Reuse list of upcoming events and sales for details about the following sales and events.
 Your local thrift stores and reuse retailers may be offering sales throughout the holidays, such as Salvation Army’s Black Friday sale, Small Business Saturday sales at Cream and Amber and CAKE Plus-Size Retail, and Thriftmas as Arc’s Value Village.
Special events and markets include:
- Black Friday Women’s Clothing Swap on November 29 in Robbinsdale
- Holiday Makers Market on November 30 at Golden Valley Town Square
- Flamingo’s Divine Vintage Sale on November 30 in Minneapolis
- Minneapolis Makers Market & Bar Hop on November 30 at various locations in northeast Minneapolis
- Twin Cities Record Show Holiday Popup on December 7 at Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis
- Wood from the Hood’s Holiday Maker’s Market on December 14 and 15 in Minneapolis
- Nicollet Island Winter Market on December 15 at Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis
- A Very Vintage Holidazzle Market on December 20 and 21 at City Centre in Minneapolis
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 Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a holiday season full of family, friends, and food. But it’s also the beginning of an enormous consumer spending season. With Black Friday sales offering amazing deals on everything from TVs to home improvement tools, it’s easy to get caught up in the rush of shopping and lose track of the potential for these habits to create clutter, generate a lot of packaging, and strain your finances.
The latest Choose to Reuse post suggest these four low-waste traditions to make the season more about reduce and reuse:
- Plan a clothing and toy swap with family or friends
- Appreciate and share stories about past gifts, family heirlooms, and cherished items
- Establish gift-giving guidelines that make the holidays fun while preventing unused gifts
- Repair or repurpose items with friends and family
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