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WMWA educators Mary Anderson and Jenny Schaust, both former science teachers, are available to provide targeted education and outreach to residents, city staff, city councils, advisory commissions and lake associations. The educators are available to give presentations, organize activities, staff information booths at events, facilitate the watershed game and more. They have also developed state-standardized curriculum for fourth grade classrooms and are looking to connect with school curriculum directors and fourth grade science teachers.
To request an educator, please email Judie at judie@jass.biz.
The Bassett Creek Watershed Management Commission is starting to update its management plan, which will guide the watershed’s work for the next 10 years, and is seeking input from residents on improving water quality and preventing flooding – issues that affect all of us. The 40-square-mile Basset Creek Watershed includes Medicine, Parkers and Sweeney lakes, Wirth Park, and, of course, Bassett Creek. Watershed projects focus on implementing best management practices in order to cleanup lakes and streams, prevent pollution, alleviate flooding and reduce erosion.
Residents and businesses can share their thoughts and concerns through a quick and easy online survey at www.bassettcreekwmo.org, at meetings in their communities, or at a Bassett Creek Watershed Summit on June 13, 2013, at 7 p.m. at the Plymouth City Hall.
For more information, email Laura Jester or call 952-270-1990.
 Have you ever experienced the living wonder of a wetland? Have you wanted to wade in and discover the plants and animals that live there? If so, Hennepin County has a unique volunteer opportunity through the Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP).
Adult volunteers work under the direction of a team leader and receive training on wetland monitoring, including plant and insect identification. They then wade through wetlands to collect and identify dragonflies, snails, cattails and more. The total time commitment is 20 to 40 hours throughout the months of May, June and July. All equipment and training is provided - no science background or previous experience is needed. Participating cities use the collected data to help determine the health of water resources and assist with natural resource management.
For more information, email Mary Karius or call 612-596-9129.
Are you concerned about water pollution? Want to be a community leader in protecting water quality?
Learn how to solve environmental problems in your community and connect with a local network of energized leaders through the new Master Water Stewards Program. The Master Water Stewards, a program of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and the Freshwater Society, will train, certify and support community leaders in installing pollution prevention projects that educate community members, reduce urban runoff, and protect our lakes, streams and wetlands. Modeled after the successful the Master Gardener program, volunteer community leaders will participate in a 50-hour training course and then implement projects to protect water quality.
The program is currently being offered for free and participation is limited to 25 residents of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. Applications are due by March 15.
For more information, email Peggy Knapp or call 763-219-1252.
Events
Cities within the Shingle Creek Watershed are celebrating Earth Day by coordinating hundreds of volunteers to clean up litter along streams and in parks. The following events are planned.
Brooklyn Center: Saturday, April 20 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Brooklyn Center Community Center, 6301 Shingle Creek Parkway. Trash bags and cotton gloves will be provided. Call Jenny Whiting at 763-585-7100 if you are interested in participating as a group or individual.
Champlin: Thursday, April 25 at 5 p.m. at the Champlin Ice Forum. Volunteers will clean up Mississippi Point Park, Chandler Park, Doris Kemp Park, Veterans Memorial Park, Galloway Park, the wooded area behind the Legion and the trail/wetland located behind Target and more! Trash bags and collection tongs will be provide; please bring your own gloves, and wear long pants and closed toe shoes. Contact Roberta Colotti at rcolotti@ci.champlin.mn.us or 763-923-7111 to register as an individual or group.
Crystal: Wednesday, May 1 at Twin Oaks Park. Neighbors are invited to clean up the park and area around the stormwater retention pond, engage in discussions about the pond and ideas for wildlife habitat improvement and invasive species control, and participate in tree planting and seedling give away. Shingle Creek Cleanup from 6 to 6:30 p.m., Arbor Day activities from 6:30 to 6:55 p.m., and neighborhood meeting with the park commission from 7 to 8 p.m.
Minneapolis: Saturday, April 20, 2013 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at nearly 40 sites throughout the city. No registration needed – just pick a site and show up. See a list of cleanup sites. Call 612-230-6479 for more information.
Robbinsdale: Saturday, April 20 at 10 a.m. at Sunset Park, 3901 Crystal Lake Boulevard on the east side of Crystal Lake. There will be an Arbor Day tree planting activity followed by park cleanup activities.
April 8 from 6 to 9 p.m. and April 9 from 9 to 1 p.m.
Plymouth Creek Center, 14800 34th Ave N., Plymouth
Get ready for the growing season at the Plymouth Yard and Garden Expo. Visit exhibitors, attend presentations and shop for unique gardening tools and furnishings.
April 20 from noon – 4 p.m.
Brooklyn Center High School
Learn how to take small steps towards big results at the Brooklyn Center EarthFest. The event will feature more than 60 educational exhibits, demonstrations, gardening workshops, and activities for young and old. Email bcearthfest@gmail.com for more information.
April 25 from 1 to 8 p.m.
If you own lakeshore property or are concerned about our lakes and streams, the Clean Water Resources Fair will provide you with information on protecting and improving our lakes. The event will feature exhibitors and presentations on a variety of water quality topics.
Learn about simple changes you can make in the way you take care of your yard that will help keep our lakes, rivers and streams clean at a Metro Blooms Green Yards, Clean Water workshop.
Workshops are schedule in April, May and June at locations throughout the county, including in Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Golden Valley, Minneapolis, Plymouth and St. Louis Park.
The Recycling Association of Minnesota has scheduled event sales of rain barrels and compost bins throughout the Twin Cities in April and May, including in Minnetonka, Roseville, Plymouth and St. Louis Park. Rain barrels, available for $69, and compost bins, available for $55, must be pre-ordered on the Recycling Association of Minnesota website. A pick-up event must be selected when ordering.
In the News
Starting this June, state agencies will stop purchasing hand soaps and dish and laundry cleaning products that contain triclosan. Triclosan, an endocrine-disrupting compound, is believed to contribute to antibiotic resistance and causes other health and environmental problems. A recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota and the Science Museum of Minnesota found that triclosan has been accumulating in many of Minnesota’s lakes and rivers and that antibacterial products are the primary source of dioxins in lakes and rivers. Read more in the Star Tribune.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is working with Minnehaha Creek Watershed District and 10 other agencies on a three-year study of chloride in lakes, streams and storm sewers to better define the problem and identify solutions. Road salt contains chloride – a water pollutant that can harm aquatic ecosystems. Melting snow and ice washes salt into storm sewers, which drain directly into lakes, rivers and streams. Once in the water, there’s no way to remove chloride. Learn more about road salt and water quality, and read more in the Star Tribune.
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