Detroit Lakes office gets into the holiday spirit
 This year, the Detroit Lakes regional office continues a tradition begun when Diane Bellefeuille (office specialist) joined in 2012 and signed the office up to be one of 17 locations in town that collects toys and winter wear for kids in schools and other organizations in the surrounding area.
This effort is part of a broader local tradition, the Damien Mitten Tree program, begun by the Damien Society in 1968 when one of its members was contacted by a local school bus driver who noticed kids getting on his bus without mittens or winter hats. While the pandemic put a dent in the number of participating locations in 2020 (nine vs. 17) due to COVID restrictions, donations were actually up.
Diane is looking forward to when the office can return to another one of its traditions, the annual ugly Christmas sweater contest.
Stay safe out there
As we move into winter and with more holiday travels in the coming weeks, it is important to be mindful of driving safety — whether it is for work or personal. Also, be aware of the fact that in 2020 and 2021, although fewer people were driving due to the COVID pandemic, fatal vehicle accidents were on the rise.
This increase in traffic fatalities may be indicative of the fact that as fewer people were on the roads, drivers became less cautious, less aware of their at-risk driving behaviors, and let down their guard. In the last two years, the leading causes of traffic fatalities were more drivers were speeding, driving while intoxicated, and failed to wear seat belts.
Check out the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety for more traffic statistics on the State of Minnesota. In addition, see the consequences of just eight seconds of distracted driving in this video. So stay safe out there.
A passing
Gregory Scott Gross, a former MPCA staffer, passed away November 27. Greg received a Master’s Degree in Environmental Engineering from the U of M and spent his career working for the EPA, in private consulting, and for the MN Pollution Control Agency. He was an ambassador for the environment using his engineering training to help set effluent limits. He also championed biological monitoring as a sentinel monitoring tool to determine impairment status..
Greg enjoyed his family, family history and genealogy, music, dancing, skiing, and camping. He was an avid reader with a vast knowledge of many subjects. He also volunteered for the MPCA Citizen Water Monitoring of Turtle Lake and Rice Creek for 27 years. A celebration of life will be held at a later time.
|
2021 Leadership Academy cohort presentations
Participants from the 2021 Leadership Academy are wrapping up their year-long learning journeys with individual and group presentations. Please join them on December 8 and 9 to hear about a wide range of leadership topics, stories, and projects. Contact Kimberly Nuckles with any questions.
Thursday, December 9, 9 a.m.-noon. See the list of day's topics on the Lorax. Join meeting.
Meet Jeff Strom
Jeff joined us last month as a TMDL and protection plan writer and lakes and eutrophication expert. He's located in the St. Paul office.
Jeff explains, "My primary role will be to write and prepare Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDLs) and lake protection reports throughout the state of Minnesota. I will also help provide subject matter expertise and technical support to agency staff and local governments throughout the State for lake and eutrophication inquiries, studies, and projects; along with providing technical assistance for collaborative efforts with other state and federal agencies."
Read more on the Lorax to find out what his superpower is.
|
Planning grants available
Climate change is threatening critical infrastructure across Minnesota. The MPCA is providing $870,000 to Minnesota communities for assessing vulnerabilities and creating plans to adapt to the effects of climate change. The funds can be used to build resilience in three infrastructure areas: stormwater, wastewater, and community-wide.
Projects funded through this grant could include, but are not limited to:
- Gauging the impact of stronger, higher frequency storms on stormwater infrastructure
- Planning wastewater infrastructure improvement projects to mitigate the impact of increased flooding
- Assessing climate risks in community infrastructure such as parks and recreational areas, roads, public buildings, local power infrastructure, etc.
- Seeking authentic input from residents and stakeholders on climate adaptation planning
Read more: Apply now: Planning grants for stormwater, wastewater, and community resilience
|
Water issues seminar — Consortium: Water quality and agricultural practices
Thursday, December 9, 9-10:30 a.m.
Current methods of agricultural production often contribute to the high nitrate, phosphorus, and sediment loads found in much of Minnesota’s surface water. This consortium brings together experts in water quality and farming practices with different backgrounds and perspectives, focusing on the problem and what must be done to help us reach water quality goals. Panelists Trevor Russell, Leif Fixen, David Legvold, and Hannah Malecha will discuss these issues and respond to questions from the audience.
Join Webex meeting.
Voyageur and Continuous Improvement Awards
Wednesday, December 15, 9-11 a.m.
Save the date for the Voyageur Awards and Awards for Continuous Improvement (also known as the Gordy Awards) celebration. You will be receiving a Teams meeting invite for the event.
Climate justice: Hope, resilience, and the fight for a sustainable future
Thursday, January 20, 1-2:30 p.m.
The MPCA Library, Equity Committee, and the Environmental Justice & Engagement Unit invites all staff to participate in an important discussion featuring the book Climate justice: Hope, resilience, and the fight for a sustainable future by Mary Robinson, climate activist and former president of Ireland. Read more on the Lorax calendar.
Cross-country skiers grapple with how to rid their sport of 'forever chemicals'
Skiers will tell you there's something almost magical about identifying the perfect wax. That's what fluoro waxes can provide. But the same properties that make these chemicals so useful in ski wax also make them bad for the environment, because they don’t break down over time. They’re incredibly durable. The MPCA does not have the power to ban the chemicals — that would have to come from the state Legislature. Earlier this year the state issued a PFAS... — Bemidji Pioneer
People in Chaska are flushing "unflushables" and paying the price
The City of Chaska is reminding people to watch what they're flushing. Wipes that are labeled "flushable" — and other things that shouldn't be flushed — have been causing problems for city wastewater facilities for years because they don't break down as toilet paper does. This can lead to plumbing repair bills for residents and increased wastewater fees from cities as they spend time and money cleaning pumps or repairing and replacing equipment early, the MPCA says. — Bring Me The News
Note: You can view additional news coverage on the Lorax's News clips page.
|
To share
1. Go to this post.
2. Click the share button and add in your own text or copy/paste what’s pre-written below to share it with your networks:
Learn more about the communities in Greater Minnesota that are using our grants to improve recycling and composting, diverting materials from landfills: https://bit.ly/3Dlpu1w
|
|
