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NEWSLETTER / AUGUST 2024
Fall Yard Care: Four Things to Know
 Can you spot the storm drain in this photo?
๐ Environmental Impact: Fall yard care has a significant effect on water quality. Dead leaves contain nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen which can lead to algal blooms and water pollution if they enter storm drains. Simply keeping leaves out of the streets will protect rivers, lakes, and streams.
๐ณ Seasonal Advantage: Fall is a great time for planting โ especially shrubs and trees. Fall plantings helps new plants devote their energy to establishing robust roots in preparation for overwintering. Cool weather also keeps soil temperatures lower and can help soil retain moisture for longer. Try to give new plantings 4-6 weeks to establish before temperatures are consistently below freezing.
๐ Leaf Management: Raking, mulching, and composting are key strategies for managing fallen leaves. Each method has its benefits. Raking keeps leaves out of storm drains, while mulching nourishes your lawn. Piling them in a suitable place like a garden can provide habitat for overwintering pollinators.
๐ฑ Preparing for Spring: Proper yard care now sets the stage for a thriving spring landscape. Do you have bare spots? Plant some new grass or native perennials. Also, donโt forget to pull any lingering weeds. And consider aerating your lawn periodically to help circulate air, water, and nutrients.
Dive Deeper: Everything You Need to Know about Fall Yard Care
Before and After: The MWMOโs Backyard Redesign
 The MWMO's backyard, before (left) and after renovation.
Our backyard on the Mississippi River has officially reopened, with some nice upgrades.
No more eroding footpaths, overgrown trees, or frustrated visitors who just want to get to the river as quickly as possible. Our redesigned backyard features newly added staircases, providing safe and direct access to the Mississippi River from our parking lot, along with improved sight lines throughout our campus.
Check out the before-and-after photos above; better yet, come see it for yourself!
Bonus: Watch a Video
New Podcast: Connie Fortin on Low-Salt Design
 In the latest episode of River of Ideas, we sit down with smart salting expert Connie Fortin to explore the emerging field of โlow-salt designโ and how it might help reduce chloride pollution in our waterways.
Fortin practically wrote the book on smart salting training for winter maintenance professionals. Now, in her new role as Low Salt Strategist at Bolton & Menk, she has turned her attention to the ways that infrastructure design impacts salt usage.
What we cover:
- Connieโs journey from computer science to environment advocacy.
- The impacts of salting on water quality.
- Connieโs pioneering role in smart salting education.
- How low-salt design offers hope for more sustainable infrastructure.
Watch River of Ideas Episode 06 on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcasting app. Donโt forget to subscribe!
New Art Exhibit Coming to MWMO
 Weโre excited to welcome a new art exhibit at the MWMOโs Stormwater Park and Learning Center.
Starting Sept. 16, the MWMO will host Network: A River Connected, an exhibit by artist and choreographer Victoria Bradford Styrbicki. The exhibit brings together photos, stories, videos, and a unique collection of hand-crafted fishing nets, all inspired by her 2019 journey on foot from the Headwaters of the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico.
Styrbickiโs project, Relay of Voices, is more than just a documentation of her travelsโitโs a deep dive into the personal, political, and social fabric that ties communities along the Mississippi River. Through the traditional art of net-making, which she learned as part of her family history, Styrbicki explores the connections between movement, language, and memory.
A net-making workshop led by the artist will take place on November 2, 2024, offering participants a hands-on experience with this disappearing craft. Stay tuned for registration details.
Learn More >
Job Openings at the MWMO
Planner-Project Manager
 Join our team! The MWMO is seeking a Planner-Project Manager.
This position collaborates with member communities, partners, consultants, and staff to integrate and execute the MWMO Watershed Management Plan and capital implementation strategies.
Closes: Sept. 15, 2024
Learn More >
Dakota Plant Walks with Tanaวงidaล To Wiล
 The history of the Twin Cities is deeply rooted in its lands and waters. Join Hennepin History Museum for a walk with Tanaวงidaล To Wiล (Blue Hummingbird Woman, or Tara Perron) to learn about her familyโs relationship with Dakota plant medicines.
Participants will learn how to identify and care for native plants, including those that improve water quality. Participation is free, but spots are limited and registration is required.
Plant Walks:
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Sunday, September 15 @ 1 p.m.โ3 p.m.
๐ Crosby Farm Regional Park
Register Here
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Saturday, October 5 @ 10 a.m.โNoon
๐ Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Register Here
MPCA Smart Salting Training
 The Minnesota Pollution Control Agencyโs Smart Salting Trainings offer ways winter maintenance pros can save money, time, and reduce salt while maintaining safety.
Roads Certification Training
Audience: City, county, or state winter maintenance professionals.
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September 24 @ 8 a.m.โ1:30 p.m.
๐ Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Register Here
Parking Lots and Sidewalks Certification Training
Audience: Private winter maintenance companies and city park, hospital, and school winter maintenance professionals.
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October 8 @ 8 a.m.โ1:30 p.m.
๐ Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Register Here
MWMO in the News
Photo of the Month
 MWMO Environmental Specialists Mary Thelen and Eva Hanson conduct water quality testing on a rainy day at Mill Ruins Park in Minneapolis on Aug. 16, 2024.
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