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Lawns to Legumes: Pollinator protection by the yard
A developing BWSR program will enable Minnesota residents to make a difference for pollinators in their own yards. Lawns to Legumes will offer cost-share, technical assistance, coaching and planting guides to eligible residents who install pollinator-friendly native plantings in their yards. The emphasis is on protecting the federally endangered state bee, the rusty patched bumblebee.
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Pomme de Terre tackles water quality
“Where would those levels be if we weren’t doing anything?” — Keith Swanson, Pomme de Terre River Association Joint Powers Board chairman, on a decade-long effort to improve water quality through conservation practices within the 874-square-mile watershed that spans six counties and feeds the Minnesota River.
Long Lake poised for gradual improvement
With four elements of a five-year, $6 million project complete, the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) anticipates the water quality of a popular north metro recreation spot will gradually improve. With $3 million in Clean Water Funds from a BWSR Targeted Watershed Demonstration grant, RCWD tackled projects aimed at reducing how much sediment and phosphorus enters the lake. Nearly a half-million people use Long Lake Regional Park’s swimming beach, boat launch and trail system every year.
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Marketing clarifies protection-based plan
First, Crow Wing County introduced a protection-based water management plan focused on surface water, groundwater and aquatic invasive species. Then it unleashed a multi-platform marketing campaign based on the premise that landowners want to do the right thing.