|
NEWSLETTER / JULY 2025
 You’ve probably walked past one without even realizing it — a shallow dip in the landscape, filled with native plants, maybe near a sidewalk or a street. Rain gardens can be easy to miss given their natural appearance, but they’ve popped up all over the Twin Cities. And while they might look like just a pretty patch of flowers, they’re actually part of something much bigger: the green stormwater infrastructure quietly protecting our water.
At the MWMO, raingardens are one of the many ways we approach stormwater management. We design, build, and study green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) like rain gardens, tree trenches, and bioswales. These systems are engineered to mimic nature by absorbing stormwater runoff before it can rush into storm drains, carrying pollutants straight to the river. Instead, the water soaks into the ground, gets filtered through soil and plant roots, and helps prevent flooding, all while supporting pollinators and local wildlife.
But here’s the thing: building GSI is just the beginning. To make these systems work long-term — and to make them better — we need data. That’s where monitoring comes in. We don’t just check in and say, “Yep, still looks green!” We collect water samples, track changes in soil and vegetation, and analyze what’s working (and what isn’t) over time.
Our latest blog post shares what we’ve learned from monitoring the tree trenches — similar GSI to rain gardens — installed in the Hoyer Heights neighborhood of Minneapolis. These pilot projects give us real-world insights that help build greener cities and cleaner water across the Twin Cities.
So the next time you pass one of those quiet little gardens by the curb, take a second look. It’s doing a lot more than you may think.
 We’re excited to welcome Botanical Impressions, a new exhibit by artist Winna Bernard, at the MWMO’s Stormwater Park and Learning Center from July 21, 2025 – January 16, 2026.
Using a technique called “flower pounding,” Winna extracts natural dyes from native plants — petals, stems, and leaves — to create vibrant, one-of-a-kind prints. Her work explores the connection between plants and textiles, inviting viewers to see the everyday beauty of nature in new and tactile ways.
📅 Exhibit Hours: Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Just ring the doorbell!) 📍 Mississippi Watershed Management Organization
Join free public workshops to learn about flower pounding and connect with the artist’s process:
-
Flower Pounding Workshops – August 23 & 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
-
Community Gathering – September 27, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Stay tuned for registration details.
Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) and the Sheridan Neighborhood Organization (SNO) have developed a draft Natural Resource Management Plan for Sheridan Memorial Park — and they want to hear from you!
Funded by an MWMO Stewardship Fund Planning Grant, the plan outlines future habitat restoration efforts at the park. Your input will help guide the restoration process and ensure it reflects the community’s vision.
Want to get involved? Let them know how you’d like to participate as the project moves forward.
Learn more and review the presentation and then you can take the survey.
The MWMO has released its 2024 Monitoring Summary, which shares a summary of environmental observations and outcomes in the watershed for 2024. See the monitoring section of our website for details.
Float Fest
📅 Saturday, August 9 | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
📍 MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center, North Mississippi Regional Park, The Mississippi River, Graco Park
Float Fest is the inaugural Great Minnesotan Float-Together — a joyful new celebration that invites people to connect with the Mississippi River through paddling, play, and community gathering.
Participants can explore the riverbank on guided Naturalist Walks at North Mississippi Regional Park, paddle downriver using a Paddle Share kayak or on one of their own, and end their paddle with a riverside celebration at Graco Park featuring food trucks, music, yard games, and community partner booths. The MWMO will also be open from 11 am to 3 pm for paddlers to stop by and use the restroom, cool off, and explore the grounds.
We Are Water MN
 Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
📅 June 19–August 11
📍 809 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55402
Water shapes everything — our environment, our communities, our histories, and yes, even our emotions. This summer, the We Are Water MN traveling exhibit invites you to explore our deep connections to water through stories, science, and shared experiences.
From interactive displays to personal water stories, We Are Water MN invites visitors to reflect on what water means to Minnesotans — and why it matters now more than ever. To find out how you can get involved, check the event calendar on the We Are Water MN website.
Flower Pounding Workshop
 📅 Saturday, August 23 & Saturday, August 30, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center
Experience the beauty of botanical dye-making with artist Winna Bernard in this hands-on workshop exploring the art of flower pounding. Using petals, stems, and leaves collected from the gardens at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization, participants will gently hammer natural pigments into cotton fabric, creating vibrant, one-of-a-kind textile prints.
The workshop begins with a demonstration of natural dye techniques, followed by a short guided walk through MWMO’s native plant gardens to learn how deep roots, clean water, and pollinators all play a role in this living landscape. Along the way, you’ll gather flowers to use in your own piece.
Back at the workshop tables, you’re invited to create, freely moving between your personal project and a collaborative community table runner that will be unveiled at our fall gathering. No prior experience is needed. All materials provided.
This event is free, but registration is required.
Photo of the Month
 Members of the Mississippi River Green Team viewing the softening pools during a tour of the drinking water treatment facility in Fridley, which takes and treats water from the Mississippi River for use by Minneapolis residents.
|
