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NEWSLETTER / OCTOBER 2024
Winterizing Your Rain Barrel
 Environmental Specialist Eva Hanson closing the MWMO cistern for the winter
As the temperatures drop, it’s time to prep your rain barrel for winter to prevent cracking and keep it in top shape for next season. Here are five quick steps to winterize your rain barrel before the first hard freeze:
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Disconnect it from your downspout to avoid water collecting in freezing temperatures.
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Drain the barrel fully by opening all spigots, then turn it upside down to make sure it’s completely empty.
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Remove hoses and spigots, which can easily split in freezing weather, and store them indoors.
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Give your rain barrel a good rinse, clearing out debris and washing out any connecting pipes or filter screens.
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Store the barrel indoors or cover it with a tarp until spring.
As you prepare for winter, it’s also a great time to think about snow and ice management. Reduce salt use with these eco-friendly winter tips to protect local water quality.
MWMO is also winterizing, but on a larger scale! We’re preparing our cistern for the season following the same principles — disconnecting, draining, and cleaning — to keep it protected and ready for another year of stormwater capture and reuse on-site.
New Podcast: From Green Team to Green Workforce
 In the latest episode of River of Ideas, host Mary Yang, MWMO’s Community Outreach Specialist and former Mississippi River Green Team (MRGT) member, sits down with fellow Green Team alumnus and current MWMO Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) member Akia Vang to discuss how this mentored job experience for Minneapolis youth shaped their journeys into environmental careers. Akia shares his experiences working on habitat management, water quality, and conservation as a youth and how these early lessons propelled him toward a career in environmental science.
Learn about the Mississippi River Green Team and the vital role youth programs like it play in fostering environmental leadership, and how community mentorship opens doors for diverse voices in the environmental sector.
Watch River of Ideas Episode 07 on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcasting app. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Network: A River Connected at MWMO
 Victoria Bradford Styrbicki’s exhibit, Network: A River Connected, featuring her hand-crafted fishing nets, photos, and video, is still on display at the MWMO’s Stormwater Park and Learning Center. Bradford Styrbicki's work reflects a deep connection to the Mississippi River, with her fishing nets symbolizing interwoven community ties along the river’s length.
The artist will be on hand to host visitors and talk about her work between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on the following dates:
- November 4
- December 16
- January 6
Visit during these times to meet the artist or stop by anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, to tour the exhibit on your own. Just ring the doorbell for admission.
For more about Network: A River Connected, check out the latest Art Hounds episode from MPR, where Bradford Styrbicki’s work is featured alongside other local art.
Staff Updates
MWMO Welcomes Aaron Goemann
We’re excited to welcome Aaron Goemann as our new Planner-Project Manager. Growing up on a farm in Southern Minnesota, Aaron developed a passion for the connection between people and nature, which has guided his career in water resources. At MWMO, he’ll focus on flood resiliency, water quality, and habitat improvement projects.
With years of experience in water infrastructure and serving as an Engineer Officer in the Minnesota Army National Guard, Aaron has honed his skills in solving complex environmental challenges. His passion for climate resiliency and biodiversity drives his work as he looks for ways to make communities more sustainable. Aaron is eager to dive into his new role and collaborate with the MWMO team right along the Mississippi River, where his love for nature and community can come together.
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MPCA Smart Salting Training
 The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s Smart Salting Trainings offer ways winter maintenance pros can save money and time and reduce salt while maintaining safety!
Property Managers Certification Training
Audience: property managers, environmental professionals and advocates, business owners, those who hire private winter maintenance professionals, MS4 and Wastewater permit staff, public works directors, and other high-level management roles.
📅 November 13@ 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
📍 Mississippi Watershed Management Organization | Register Here
Stewardship Fund Grants Information Session
 Do you have an idea for a project to improve water quality and habitat in your community? Learn how to apply for a grant from the MWMO’s Stewardship Fund!
Join us for a free information session to find out more about the grant program, network and application process.
📅 November 13, 2024 at 5–5:30 p.m. | Register Here
📍 Virtual Meeting via Zoom
Stewardship Fund Grants — December 13, 2024 by 4:30 p.m.
Photo of the Month
 MWMO staff pose in kayaks lined up on the Mississippi River with hands raised in front of the MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center shoreline.
MWMO staff paddled the Mississippi from North Mississippi Regional Park to Boom Island! It was a day of riverside views, team bonding, and a closer look at MWMO projects along the way. 🚣♀️🌊
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