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NEWSLETTER / JUNE 2024
We've been lucky. Our watershed has been largely spared the devastating flooding impacting communities in northern and southern Minnesota — and even right next door in St. Paul. In all, nearly half of our state is currently experiencing flooding.
Floods are a stark reminder of the complex ways that water connects us, and how problems upstream lead to even bigger problems downstream. This year's deluge, the result of heavy, consistent rains that follow several consecutive years of drought, are also a reminder of the growing unpredictability of our climate.
You can keep an eye on local flood forecasts via National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration river gauges. Here are two that we watch:
Bonus: For helpful context, weather and hydrology enthusiasts might want to check out the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' HydroClim newsletter.
 You might know about some of the big plans for Upper Harbor Terminal: a 20-acre riverfront park, a new performing arts center, and new housing and businesses, to name a few.
There’s another incredible feature you probably don’t know about: a 24-acre system of connected habitat, public spaces, and surface stormwater features that the MWMO has been planning together with the project partners since 2015.
The MWMO has committed $10.7 million to build a district system at Upper Harbor that captures, cleans, and reuses stormwater runoff, protects the Mississippi River, and adds connected habitat throughout the site. It has three main components:
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Southern Regional Treatment System: An underground treatment system will clean polluted stormwater runoff from a 75-acre area of North Minneapolis to be reused throughout the Upper Harbor site.
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Common Reuse System: Treated stormwater runoff will be pumped throughout the site for irrigation and for a signature ephemeral stream feature that will support a variety of macroinvertebrate life forms.
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Shoreline and Habitat Restoration: Ongoing work includes removing invasive vegetation, re-grading the riverbank, preserving healthy and mature trees, and stabilizing the shoreline with perennial vegetation and diverse tree plantings.
On June 8, the MWMO joined with project partners and state and local leaders in celebrating the completion of Phase 1 public infrastructure at the site and the groundbreaking for the new park. These are merely the first milestones in a project that will last many years.
Upper Harbor Terminal's redevelopment presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to restore a large section of Mississippi River shoreline in the Twin Cites urban core and provide regional stormwater treatment to a large portion of North Minneapolis.
Learn more and see a map of the system on our project page.
 America’s turfgrass lawns take up an estimated 25 million acres of land. Naturally, how we care for those lawns matters for the environment — including our water quality.
Here are five simple at-home tips for healthier lawns and cleaner water:
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Mind the clippings. Keep your grass clippings off the street and away from storm drains. Grass clippings pollute waterways with excess nutrients, leading to algal blooms.
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Mow high. Set your lawn mower to cut at a height of 3 inches or greater, and try not to cut more than one-third of the length of the grass at a time. These practices will produce a healthy, dense root system that resists weeds, drought, and erosion.
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Mulch, don’t fertilize. Mulching your grass clippings provides a natural round of fertilizer to your lawn each time you mow.
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Water wisely. Turfgrass lawns typically need 1 inch of rain per week to stay healthy. This year, you probably haven’t needed to do any supplemental watering. In a dry year, use a rain gauge to determine if and when to water your lawn.
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Consider alternatives. If you’re tired of mowing your lawn, consider replacing it with a low-mow fescue or pollinator lawn that requires less maintenance.
Learn more on our website and check out our lawn care videos.
 River of Ideas Episode 04 is live!
In our latest podcast, we sit down with Ray Ruiz Jr., founder and executive director of Baztec, Inc., for a conversation about fishing and breaking barriers.
As a bilingual fishing teacher, Ray specializes in expanding access to outdoor recreation. The MWMO has partnered with Baztec to host a series of fishing events on the Mississippi River as part of our ongoing “Meet the Mississippi” initiative.
In the episode, Ray shares his inspiring journey from growing up in Chicago to becoming a renowned fishing guide and educator in the Twin Cities. We cover the challenges and rewards of river fishing, the importance of clean water, and how to reach diverse communities.
Watch now on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcasting app. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Learn More >
2024 Salt Symposium
📅 August 6–7, 2024
📍 Online Only
The MWMO is proud to co-sponsor this year's Salt Symposium! This event celebrates the optimization of salt use to improve community sustainability and protect vital freshwater systems and infrastructure.
The Salt Symposium brings together leaders from diverse economic sectors to learn about the impacts of chloride and reduction methods. Professionals from across the world will share their expertise on current research initiatives including water softening, wastewater, fertilizer, snow and ice management, and more.
Register >
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