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NEWSLETTER / APRIL 2023
 Photo of the Month: Hall's Island is nearly completely submerged by the flooding Mississippi River on April 18, 2023. Even while flooded, the island provides valuable habitat to a variety of wildlife. MWMO staff observed coots, buffleheads, ruddy ducks, Canada geese, and mallards using the flooded island as a refuge on this same day.
Reminder: Celebrate Earth Day Tomorrow
 Tomorrow is Earth Day! It’s a great day to appreciate the wonder of nature — whatever that means to you.
Earth Day cleanup events are happening all across the Twin Cities metro area. We’ve got a handy list of cleanups scheduled in our watershed, along with upcoming plant sales, yard care workshops, and other spring-related resources on our blog.
Learn More >
MWMO Summer 2023 Project Preview
 Construction season is about to kick off, and the MWMO and its partners have another exciting slate of green infrastructure projects lined up for 2023:
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Riverfront Parks: The MWMO is working with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) on stormwater and habitat improvements to two new city parks on the Mississippi River: Upper Harbor Terminal and Graco Park.
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Street Reconstructions: A pair of intersections on Minnehaha Avenue in South Minneapolis and a one-mile stretch of 37th Avenue NE between Minneapolis and Columbia Heights are being rebuilt with stormwater infiltration features and pollinator-friendly plants.
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Sustainability and the Arts: The Northrup King Campus, a hub for the local art community, will be rebuilt with innovative stormwater management features and native prairie habitat. Juxtaposition Arts’ new eco-friendly campus is also set to open this summer.
Other major projects wrapping up this year include NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center’s campus expansion (with its modular wetland systems) and Xcel Energy’s new Marshall Operations Center, which features a habitat-rich landscape. A stormwater reuse project for a new multi-family housing development at 3030 Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis is also in the works.
Learn More >
Three Ways You Can Help Protect Pollinators at Home this Spring
 If we know our readers, many of you are itching to start working in your yards. Before you do, consider these three tips that will help protect the pollinating insects and animals that play a vital role in our ecosystem:
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Hold off on your garden cleanup until late spring. Wait until temperatures have been consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit so that pollinators have a chance to emerge from their winter shelters in dead leaves and plant material.
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Leave some weeds for the pollinators. You might not like dandelions and other flowering weeds, but they’re an important early season food source for pollinators. Consider letting a few stand if you don’t mind them.
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Give your landscape a pollinator-friendly makeover. Native perennials are easy to plant, easy to care for, and provide the dual benefits of managing stormwater runoff and providing pollinator habitat. We posted some resources to get you started on our blog.
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Staff Updates
Farewell to Madison DelCastillo
Next week, the MWMO will say goodbye to Madison DelCastillo. She joined the MWMO as a water quality monitoring intern last September and completed her internship in March. Just as we were about to say goodbye, another staff member departed and Madison agreed to fill in as a part-time administrative specialist.
Madison has taken a position with the Emily Program, a treatment facility for people experiencing eating disorders, as a Behavioral Health Technician. She plans to apply to graduate school to pursue an M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has been an amazing coworker, and we wish her the best of luck.
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Upcoming Events
 Share the River Nordeast
You are invited once again to join us for an evening of community, canoeing and cookies! Share the River Nordeast is back.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 22. Stop by anytime between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. for a free introductory canoe ride on the Mississippi River, then grab a free cookie and enjoy a variety of fun and educational activities at our Stormwater Park and Learning Center.
This family-friendly event is great for kids and adults of all ages. (Please note that you must weigh at least 30 lbs. in order to fit the provided life jackets.)
Learn More >
Audubon Spring Festival 2023
A Celebration of the Mississippi River and Our Relationship with It!
Join the Audubon Neighborhood Association for their annual Spring Festival on Saturday, May 6, 2023, 11 a.m.–4 pm. at the Audubon Park Recreation Center in Northeast Minneapolis.
"The Mississippi River and Our Relationship with It" is the theme for this year's festival, showcasing the river's vital connection to our community. Look forward to a day filled with fun, games, music, and interactive learning!
Learn More >
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