|
NEWSLETTER / JANUARY 2024
 It’s one of the most common questions we receive at the MWMO, and one of the trickiest to answer. Let's start with the big picture.
A hundred years ago, the river was a disaster. Minneapolis and St. Paul piped raw sewage into its waters, turning it into an open cesspool. By the late 1920s, local fish life was found to be nearly extinct, and communities along the river suffered frequent outbreaks of disease.
Today, the river is much cleaner, thanks to advances in wastewater treatment and a host of federal, state and local regulatory efforts. But recent decades have seen both continued progress and renewed challenges in cleaning up the river.
What’s improving:
-
Bacteria. Efforts to separate stormsewers from sanitary sewers greatly reduced the presence of dangerous fecal coliform bacteria in the river.
-
Sediment. Total Suspended Solids (TSS) have been reduced in the river as it flows through the Twin Cities — but are still accumulating in Lake Pepin.
-
Phosphorus. Improvements in wastewater treatment have reduced phosphorus loading in recent decades.
What’s not improving:
-
Nitrate. Fertilizer used in agricultural production is the main culprit in nitrate pollution in the river, and the problem is slowly worsening.
-
Chloride. The toxic chemical ingredient in road salt continues to accumulate year after year in our waterways.
-
Emerging contaminants. Microplastics and a wide variety of unregulated chemicals are known to be present in the river, and the science around them is still evolving.
Dig deeper in our latest blog post on water quality trends in the river.
Read the Blog Post >
Winter Gardening? You Betcha!
 Minnesota is on track for its warmest winter in recorded history. But don't start digging up the garden just yet; it only feels like an early spring.
Now is a great time for some often-overlooked winter yard care activities. (Note: These come from our friends at the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, who shared them in their latest newsletter.)
-
Remove invasive species. Common buckthorn and other garden intruders can be easier to spot this time of year because the leaves stay on longer.
-
Spread native seed. The freeze-thaw cycle actually helps native seeds germinate in the spring. (Ideally, snow cover would help hide them from hungry animals too.)
-
Prune trees and shrubs. Winter is the right time for removing dead branches and reducing overgrowth in woody plants.
Bonus: It's not too early to think about planting a pollinator garden! Environmental educator Angie Hong posted a handy guide to sowing native perennial seeds at home in winter.
MWMO Welcomes Dustin McHenry
Please join us in welcoming Water Resources and Instrumentation Specialist Dustin McHenry to the MWMO team! He will be responsible for installing, operating, and maintaining water quality monitoring equipment and instruments in the field.
Dustin previously worked as a conservation specialist for Marathon County in Wisconsin. He holds a master’s degree in aquatic science from the University of Wisconsin—La Crosse.
View Bio Page >
|
Upcoming Events
Smart Salting for Local Leaders Workshop
Thursday, Feb. 22, 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
Online
The MWMO is partnering with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to offer a free, virtual two-hour Smart Salting for Community Leaders workshop.
This training is geared toward community decision-makers including elected officials, members of sustainability and environmental commissions, HOA and neighborhood organization leaders, watershed board members and CACs, business district leaders, and more.
Register Here >
|
MPCA Turfgrass Maintenance Certification Training
Tuesday, March 26, 8 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Online
The MWMO is hosting a Turfgrass Maintenance Certification Training in partnership with the MPCA and Bolton & Menk.
This training focuses on best management practices for lawn/turf maintenance that can save money while protecting lakes and streams. Turf care professionals will learn a lot in this interactive, online training and have the opportunity to take the certification test upon completion of the course.
Register Here >
|
|
