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NEWSLETTER / MARCH 2022
 Early spring is a time of excitement here at the MWMO. Spring ephemerals are beginning to pop in the river gorge. Birds are migrating northward along the Mississippi River flyway. And new green infrastructure projects are soon to break ground.
But spring can also be an ugly time for water quality. The season’s first rain showers have already flushed a winter’s worth of accumulated salt, sand, and sediment off the streets and into the Mississippi River. We can see this in real time via our monitoring stations, and with our own eyes on the streets and along the river.
Now is the time to start thinking about how you can help protect and improve water quality and habitat this spring. Here are four simple do’s and don’ts:
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DO: Adopt a stormdrain in your neighborhood. Clearing your stormdrain and curb of dirt and debris will help protect the river and prevent localized flooding. Visit adopt-a-drain.org to get started.
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DON’T: Clean up your garden too early. Pollinators are still over-wintering in the dead leaves and plant material in your yard. Wait until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees before you do any raking or trimming.
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DO: Start planning your native plant garden. If you’ve been thinking about building a raingarden or planting a few native perennials, now is the time to start planning. Spring plant sales are just around the corner.
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DON’T: Worry about a few dandelions. Dandelions and other flowering weeds provide a source of pollinator habitat early in the season. If you don’t mind them, just let them be.
Dig into more detail on our blog.
 The MWMO Board of Commissioners elected new officers and officially welcomed newly appointed commissioners at its March 14 meeting. The current list of commissioners includes:
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Stephen Eggert (Chair), City of Fridley
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Randy Stille (Vice Chair), City of St. Anthony Village
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LaTrisha Vetaw (Treasurer), City of Minneapolis
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Connie Buesgens, Cities of Columbia Heights and Hilltop
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Jeffrey Dains, City of Lauderdale
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Becka Thompson, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
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(Vacant), City of St. Paul
We’ll be publishing monthly profiles of each of our MWMO commissioners beginning in April. You’ll be able to find them here in our newsletter. In the meantime, a full list (including alternates) can be found on our website.
 The MWMO awarded five new Action Grants this month, funding a variety of green stormwater infrastructure projects:
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African Development Center — $50,000 for an underground stormwater infiltration basin.
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FamilyWise — $15,200 for various improvements that will enhance and connect existing stormwater features on site.
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First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights — $50,000 for native plant gardens and a filtration basin.
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Mercado Central — $50,000 for a variety of stormwater and habitat enhancements.
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Water Knowledge Network — $14,476 to support a series of four planned workshops organized by Friends of the Mississippi River.
You can find more details in our news release.
 The MWMO partners with our member communities to provide several different kits to groups of residents interested in protecting water quality and the environment.
Stormdrain stenciling kits are designed to raise awareness about the connection between our streets and the Mississippi River, and to motivate residents to keep trash and debris out of stormsewers. Each of our member cities have kits available for checkout.
Adopt-a-Drain kits are also available for checkout, and include cleaning tools and a wagon to help carry supplies. The MWMO is also collaborating with Columbia Heights and Fridley in the second year of the Anoka County Community Adopt-a-Drain Challenge. This friendly challenge helps bring more drain adoptions to each community and encourages continued stewardship of already adopted drains.
Finally, our community clean-up kits are a great option for holding cleanup events — and spring is a perfect time to do it.
Contact Adam Flett, communications and outreach specialist, to learn more and/or request a kit.
 After 10 years with the MWMO, Youth and Community Outreach Specialist Michaela Neu left to begin a new position as a project coordinator at Green Minneapolis, where she’ll work on the Climate Resiliency Initiative.
In her work coordinating the Mississippi River Green Team, Michaela has made a lasting impact on the lives of countless youth. She worked tirelessly to connect green teamers with educational and job opportunities — even after they completed the program — and emerged as a leader in local efforts to develop pathways to diversify the environmental workforce.
Michaela has also been an integral member of the outreach team, contributing to the expansion and effectiveness of the MWMO’s outreach efforts.
She will be greatly missed by co-workers, partners and youth, alike, and we wish her the best of luck in her new job!
 James Rice Park Community Meeting
You are invited to a presentation of a five-year, volunteer-centric plan to restore habitat at this riverfront park in the North Loop Neighborhood of Minneapolis, supported by an MWMO Planning Grant.
Wednesday, April 6 — Pryes Brewing Company
Learn More
Columbia Heights Adult Enrichment: Centering Community Perspectives in Watershed Protection
The MWMO and Columbia Heights Public Schools Adult Enrichment program invite people from Columbia Heights to join in via Zoom. We’ll talk about centering community perspectives in watershed protection and learn how the community members can improve water quality and habitat.
Tuesday, April 19 — Virtual
Learn More
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