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MPCA asking for help to set its five-year priorities
While the MPCA has one more year left in its current strategic plan, the agency has initiated a strategic planning process to develop a plan that inspires and guides the agency’s actions for the next five years.
The agency is currently seeking input from stakeholders who have knowledge and interest in the work of the agency and the environment. The survey asks stakeholders to rate how MPCA is doing in our work and to share their opinions on environmental priorities. This input will help inform the strategic direction for the agency for the next five years.
Strategic goals videos now available
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Did you miss the presentations to outline and discuss progress made toward the agency’s 2018-2022 strategic plan goals for air, land, water, climate, and operations? Those videos are now available on YouTube:
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Check out the Voyageurs Awards video
Last month, the Voyageurs Awards and Awards for Continuous Improvement ceremony recognized staff for work that reflects the agency's core values, as well as for accomplishments in continuous improvement and innovation. For those who may have missed the ceremony, the video of the event is now available on YouTube.
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Job openings
Project manager watershed management: The incumbent is a watershed project manager for the East Central Watershed Section and is responsible for the protection and restoration goals within the seven-county metro area and adjacent watersheds. Job ID: 52013. Location: St. Paul. Closing date: January 28. Find out more.
Water quality monitoring assistant: This posting may be used to fill more than one water quality monitoring assistant position working out of the St. Paul Minnesota office. These temporary positions will collect water samples from lakes and streams for MPCA professional biologists to conduct water quality investigations and assessment in Minnesota. Job ID: 52102. Location: St. Paul. Closing date: February 18. Find out more.
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Duluth art exhibit: As long as the rivers shall run
The American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) Galleries is hosting a new exhibition: "As long as the rivers shall run” by Duluth artist Ellen Sandbeck. The exhibit is an exploration of major rivers, beginning in our own backyard, with the Mississippi. The series will feature endemic species, including endangered, recently extinct, and invasive ones, found in each of the featured rivers. Find out more.
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Meet Kaity Taylor
Kaity joined the MPCA in November as a TMDL writer and waterborne pathogen expert. Although she is based out of the St. Paul office, she will be working state-wide.
Most recently, she came from the private sector water resources world and spent time at both Tetra Tech and Stantec. While at Tetra Tech, Kaity predominantly worked under the MPCA master contract to develop TMDLs and WRAPS reports throughout the state.
Find out more about Kaity and what she's been doing to reduce stress during the pandemic.
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High-emitting vehicle repair grant
The MPCA currently has competitive grant funding available for another round of the High-Emitting Vehicle Project. The MPCA is soliciting applications for a contractor to administer a program which will partner with auto repair shops, dealerships, technical colleges, or other entities to identify and fix high-emitting vehicles that have faulty emissions systems.
This program is intended to offer free emission repairs (up to a certain dollar amount) on older vehicles in densely populated, low-income population areas where a higher proportion of these high-emitting, older vehicles are expected to exist.
For full details on who may apply, eligible project costs, and other information that will help applicants submit a proposal, visit the high-emitting vehicle repair grant webpage.
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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.
Air issues seminar
Monday, January 24, 3-4 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to join the January Air Issues Seminar on Monday, January 24. You will hear from Sophie Greene, Dorian Kvale, Summer Streets, and Kari Palmer on the PFAS Blueprint and how it relates to air monitoring and risk assessment.
Join meeting.
Good or lucky? A brief exploration of luck in our personal and professional lives
Tuesday, January 25, 2-3 p.m.
How did you get to where you are today? Certainly, you have a well of talent to draw from and there has been plenty of hard work along the way. Perhaps you also got a little lucky? This event provides a framework to see how luck operates in our lives and explores some of the connections between the way we acknowledge luck and empathy, social justice views, and even job engagement. Open discussion to follow the presentation. Read more on the Lorax.
Join meeting.
Study: Lake ice is coming later, disappearing earlier
“Shorter lake ice seasons, caused by climate change, are threatening some of Minnesota’s most cherished traditions,” said MPCA Commissioner Katrina Kessler. “We must take bold action to mitigate the devastating effects of climate change — for the sake of our lakes, our economy, and to save winters as we know them in our state.” — The Timberjay
Minnesota River headwaters deteriorated from phosphorus, bacteria
What flows from the headwaters of the Minnesota River starting at the South Dakota border can affect the river through New Ulm, Mankato, St. Peter, and on to the Mississippi. The latest report from the MPCA shows that a large majority of the lakes and streams in the headwaters are deteriorated from high levels of phosphorus and bacteria. — Brainerd Dispatch
Commissioners consider landfill proposal
Brown County commissioners will consider a proposal at its meeting on January 18 from GEI Consultants Inc. for assistance in the development of the 2021 annual report and continued 2022 environmental monitoring at the county landfill as required by the MPCA. — The Journal
Note: You can view additional news coverage on the Lorax's News clips page.
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We’re inviting teachers to use the Our Minnesota Climate Flipgrid activity in their classrooms so that we can hear from our youth on their vision for a better climate and a more sustainable Minnesota. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3sI6g0S
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Eruption could be heard in Alaska, 6,000 miles away
Last week, Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai, an uninhabited volcanic island of the Tongan archipelago, erupted. The force of the explosion was more than 500 times as powerful as World War II atom bombs.
The eruption sent clouds of ash 12 miles high and three miles wide into the atmosphere and caused tsunamis in Tonga, Fiji, American Samoa, Vanuatu, and along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, including damaging tsunamis in New Zealand, Japan, the United States, the Russian Far East, Chile, and Peru. The blast was so loud it could be heard 6,000 miles away in Alaska. The shock wave even caused a spike in barometric pressure in Minnesota.
Read more: NASA scientists estimate Tonga blast at 10 megatons
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PCA 2Day is published twice each week Monday and Thursday. Staff are encouraged to submit story ideas and event details. Deadline for submission is noon of the prior business day. |
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