cynthia krieg watershed stewardship fund · watershed-friendly congregations working together ......

Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund Project History

Summary:

The Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund was established by the Minnehaha

Creek Watershed District in 2000, in memory of Cynthia Krieg, whose life

exemplified dedication to community service and natural resource protection. This

fund encourages and supports community service initiatives to protect water quality

and promote public awareness of nonpoint source pollution abatement. It is a

competitive grant; $100,000.00 is made available annually.

Updated on Thursday, January 24, 2013

Projects Funded Fall 2012

Alliance for Sustainability

Watershed-Friendly Congregations Working Together

Description: Volunteers and staff from 15 congregations throughout the District will work

together to assess their buildings and grounds for opportunities to install stormwater BMPs or

adopt more water conscious activities.

Project Started: January 2013

Project Completed: December 2012

Total Funding: $20,000

El Colegio

Aguas Curriculum

Description: Create a bilingual English-Spanish curriculum and onsite learning environment for

K-3 students, including lessons about water taught by El Colegio High School students.




Freshwater Society

Implementing Community Stormwater Management Projects Using Master Water

Stewards

Description: Implementing Community Stormwater Management Projects Using Master

Water Stewards. The Master Water Stewards (MWS) program will certify clean water

stewards who will install pollution prevention projects on both residential and commercial

properties and educate citizens in their neighborhoods to reduce urban storm water runoff and

nutrient loads.




Metro Blooms

Lake Nokomis Neighborhood of Raingardens

Description: The citizen-based, neighborhood-focused process to engage local property owners

in efforts to improve water quality is in full support of the Lake Nokomis TMDL, approved by the

US EPA in April 2011.





Northern Lights

Neighbors by Way of Water

Description: This project will produce a location-based game concept that raises awareness

about water quality and the connectivity we share relative to stormwater management systems

and Minnehaha Creek.




Phyllis Wheatley Community Center

WATER COVERS eARTH

Description: Provide a leadership opportunity for youth who will learn about the formation of

the chain of lakes within the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and the importance of

protecting and preserving our water resources. They will help to make permanent public

artwork showing important citizen conservation efforts to maintain the health of the watershed.






West Metro Community Clean Ups for Water Quality

Description: Coordinate volunteers from 30 neighborhoods/block clubs in Edina, Hopkins, St.

Louis Park, and SW Minneapolis to host and organize April or October community clean-ups to

remove soil, grass clippings, and leaves from streets and storm drains to prevent runoff.




Bakken Museum

Bakken Museum’s Water Quality Education Project

Description: Educate visitors about the role of the Bakken’s prairie/wetland and green rooftop

in preserving the water quality of Lake Calhoun. Activities include an outdoor exhibit, related

programming and habitat restoration for the wetland area compromised by non-native species.

Project Started: February 2012




Carver County Water Management Organization (CCWMO)

Aquatic Invasive Species Inspection Video

Description: Use a unique engagement process - a contest - to solicit ideas and create a short,

entertaining education video discussing AIS and demonstrating how to do a boat inspection.

Project Started: April 2012



Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood Group (FRNNG)

FRNNG Earth Week Celebration

Description: Increase the awareness of stormwater runoff and NPS pollution and educate

current and potential homeowners in south Minneapolis on methods and practices that they

can do to protect our waters. Organize and hold workshops on organic lawn and garden care

methods and creating a non-toxic home environment. Both focus on the direct impacts we can

have on both storm and drinking water.

Project Started: March 2012



Friends of the Mississippi River

The State of the River Report

Description: The State of the River Report will increase broad public awareness about the range

of factors affecting river health, and build public support around priorities for action to protect

the river and watershed.




Hamline, Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE)

Minnehaha Creek Watershed Companion: A Community Based Watershed Story

Description: Develop and produce a Minnehaha Creek Watershed Companion, a dynamic

community resource that tells the Minnehaha Creek story, illuminates ways its water quality can

be improved and protected through examples and stories collected by student-teacher groups

within the District.


Project Completed: June 2013



Hilltop Elementary

Our Water, Our World, and Us

Description: Provide for curriculum development and educational opportunities for K-5

students to participate in various activities that show 1. How erosion affects landforms, 2. How

invasive species can affect the ecosystem, and 3. How water quality can affect the ecology of

the natural environment.




Metro Blooms

Stormwater Education, Outreach, and Assistance Program

Description: Education, outreach, and assistance program for raingardens and other

stormwater BMPs. Blooming School Yards: the Wayzata West High School Rain Garden Project,

which is designed to engage students in water quality improvement efforts. Stormwater

Solutions: Commercial District Linden Hills Neighborhood, which is a unique process to assist

businesses in water quality improvement projects by helping them plan BMPs into future

redevelopment or prosperity changes by providing the resources needed to make it a cost-

effective option.




Minnesota Erosion Control Association (MECA)

Virtual Tour of Water Improvement/Protection Projects & Erosion and Sediment Control

Instructional Video Clips

Description: MCWD water quality improvement projects will be featured on a web-based

searchable virtual tour, including photos, and detailed project information. Video clips

demonstrating erosion and sediment control practices will also be produced, including filming

and editing.

Project Started:

Project Completed:




Watershed-Friendly Congregations Tool Kit and Workshops

Description: Volunteers and staff from 30+ MCWD congregations will assess their buildings and

grounds to decide the storm water BMPs they will begin in 2011 through our Watershed

Friendly Congregations Tool Kit and urban & suburban workshops.





Armatage Montessori School

Armatage Rain Gardens

Description: The project joins Armatage students, families, and community in a partnership with

Metro Blooms to reduce storm water runoff in the sub Minnehaha Creek Watershed area. This

goal will be realized through water stewardship education and the installation of school and

community rain gardens.




Central States Water Environment Association Minnesota Section

Liquid Assets “A Documentary Film on Minnesota’s Critical Water Infrastructure”

Description: “Sustainability of our water infrastructure assets” is the theme of a 30-minute

documentary film proposed to raise awareness about Minnesota’s critical water infrastructure

(drinking water, wastewater and stromwater) and the need to invest in it.

Project Started: June 2011



Field Regina Northrop Neighborhood Group (FRNNG)

Earth Week Celebration – workshops

Description: We aim to increase awareness of storm water runoff and non-point source

pollution among residents in the Field, Regina, and Northrop neighborhoods of Minneapolis.

Two educational workshops are planned in addition to a storm drain stenciling project.




Freshwater Society

Community Clean-ups for Water Quality

Description: The Freshwater Society will develop a neighborhood outreach directory, conduct

trainings and over 20 organic waste clean-ups with lake and neighborhood associations, local

governmental agencies and other active water organizations to reduce transmittal of nitrogen

and phosphorus in storm water to impaired water bodies.





Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE)

Minnehaha Creek Educator Network: Community Watershed Ambassadors Project

Description: CGEE will develop teacher leaders who educate and create awareness among

students and the community about causes, effects and remedies of nonpoint source pollution.

Funding at $23.5K will support educators’ participation in River Institutes; facilitate field

activities, and support an educators’ network with access to resources that advance watershed

stewardship.


Project Completed : June 2012


Lake Minnewashta Preservation Association (LMPA)

Zebra Mussel Prevention Program

Description: This program will provide onsite education to boat launchers and lake residents,

community education of the Mussel problem and solutions, increased inspection activities, and

the installation and operation of a hot water pressure washer system at the Carver Regional

Park launch sites for the prevention of Mussel infestation in Lake Minnewashta.


Project Completed : December 2011


Metro Blooms

Raingarden Education Program

Description: Metro Blooms will use funds for Raingarden Education Programs to introduce the

broad community of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to the beauty and benefits of

raingardens – putting raingardening in the hands of gardeners and non-gardeners alike. Our

Neighborhood Raingarden Events provide education and installation support to residents in

target neighborhoods of an impaired water body with education and installation assistance and

incentives. In 2010, our plans include working in partnership with the host cities of Minneapolis,

Shorewood, Victoria, St. Louis Park, and Plymouth and with Minneapolis Public Schools,

including Armatage in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.




Minneapolis Public Schools

Raingarden Maintenance and Education Plan

Description: Minneapolis Public Schools will begin raingarden maintenance and educational

programming at several schools in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District. The intent of this

project is to create opportunities to integrate existing science curriculum with school rain


gardens, and to tie classrooms to rain gardens in an effort to establish an ongoing maintenance

regime for rain gardens on school district property.


Project Completed : August 2012


Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Green Heron Pond Area Interpretive Signage

Description: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum will install interpretive signage in the Green

Heron Pond area to describe: how wetlands support plant and animal life; how a wetland’s

ability to filter water is affected by activities upstream; and positive actions visitors can take to

improve water quality.






Youth Environmental Activists of MN- West Metro Schools Adopt a Creek project

Description: Youth Environmental Activists in five high school environmental clubs will organize

Minnehaha Creek clean-up or restoration events with their City's parks or environment

commissions. Students will ask their city councils to adopt MN Green Step cities water quality

best practices.




Audubon Chapter of Minneapolis

Robert’s Bird Sanctuary Restoration Project

Description: Students will visit Robert's Bird Sanctuary to learn about the connections between

water quality, habitat, and the presence or absence of wildlife. Activities will include bird

watching and learning about invasive plants with senior citizens as their guides.

Project Start: April 2010

Project Completed : November 2010

Total Funding: $1,372.75


Carver County Land & Water Services

Minnewashta Park Raingarden Demonstration

Description: CCLWS will work with Boy Scout Troop 589 to install two raingardens in

Minnewashta Park. The gardens will restore native habitat, reduce stormwater runoff and

improve water quality, and serve as demonstration sites for visitors.

Project Start: January 2010

Project Completed : October 2010


City of Shorewood

Shoreline Stabilization Party and Installation

Description: Shorewood will complete a shoreline stabilization project on a residential property,

taking a community-based approach where neighbors will be invited to participate and learn

how to stabilize shorelines. Some participants will receive technical assistance and funding for

their own shoreline projects.


Project Completed : September 2010


Institute on the Environment

The Raingarden Renaissance: A Documentary

Description: Institute on the Environment will coordinate a team of University of Minnesota

students, faculty, and local professionals to produce a film about citizen-based efforts to

improve water quality in Powderhorn Lake. Community screenings will provide multiple

perspectives, increase participation, and promote watershed stewardship.



Key Dates: MCWD Funded portion - December 2010; Film Distribution-December 2011


Metro Blooms

Raingarden Education

Description: Metro Blooms will introduce the community to the beauty and benefits of

raingardens through raingarden education programs. Neighborhood raingarden parties provide

education, installation support and incentives to residents in targeted neighborhoods.

Project Start: February 2010

Project Completed : July 2010



Metro Blooms

Neighborhoods of Raingardens

Description: The will develop an ongoing raingarden evaluation and maintenance program

integrated with their successful Garden Evaluation and Recognition program.




Minnesota Waters

MCWD Lake/Stream Associations Reach and Engage New Partners

Description: Minnesota Waters will develop community outreach tools which help citizen-led

associations educate area residents about the value their water body brings to the community.

The trainings, resources and template will recruit and engage new community members in their

water quality protection projects.




Orono School District #278

Listening Point

Description: Installation of a dock at LISTENING POINT where students and visitors observe,

learn and reflect upon wetlands. The FRESH WATER Festival will celebrate wetland biodiversity

and the Fresh Water Curriculum will allow lifelong awareness, learning, appreciation and

stewardship of wetlands.




St. David’s Center for Child & Family Development

Wetland Restoration and Water Quality Stewardship Project

Description: St. David's will extend water quality education to preschool and school age children,

specifically related to the school forest, wetland restoration and water quality stewardship

projects.

Project Start: March 2010





City of Shorewood

Demonstration Raingarden and hands on Workshop

Description: Offer a hands-on opportunity to participate in creating a demonstration rain garden

in Freeman Park. Residents will work with a landscape architect to determine ideal locations on

their property for a garden and will assist creating a garden.




Metro Blooms

Neighborhoods of Raingardens

Description: This was the first year of a three-year approach that includes new neighborhood

and youth partnerships and measurable improvements to Powderhorn Lake. In addition to

informational workshops and on-site design services, hands-on construction services will be

provided for clusters of residential properties and faith-based institutions to install 75 rain

gardens in one sub-watershed of Powderhorn Lake.




Metro Blooms

Raingarden Workshop

Description: Rain Garden Workshops to educate thousands of residents within the Minnehaha

Creek Watershed District about how to protect local water resources by constructing rain

gardens. In 2009 we are seeking partnerships with Hennepin County and the workshop host

cities of Minneapolis, Shorewood, Victoria, Minnetonka, St. Louis Park, Plymouth, and Hopkins.




Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Waterosity: Go Green with a Splash

Description: Harvest Your Rain, a permanent demonstration area at the Minnesota Landscape

Arboretum, will present ways to help homeowners 1.) return rainwater to the earth via a green

roof, rain barrels and rain gardens and 2.) reduce the runoff to municipal stormwater systems

from rooftops and paved surfaces on their property.

Project Start: May 2009




St. David's Child Development and Family Services

Wetland Restoration & Water Quality Stewardship Project

Description: The Wetland Restoration and Water Quality Stewardship Project will extend water

quality education to a broader audience of preschool and school-age children, and implement

the next phase of restoration activities through service learning projects.



Total Funds: $8,700

St. Louis Park - Park and Recreation Advisory Commission

Creek in the Park Clean Up and Resource Mapping Project

Description: A Creek Clean up activity that will involve youth and adult volunteers who will walk

both sides of the Minnehaha Creek in St. Louis Park, clearing litter, trash, and other foreign

objects from the banks and bottom of the Creek.






2008 Neighborhood Sustainability Conference & Network and Local Government Training

Description: 25 volunteer teams from neighborhoods, congregations, schools & lake groups in

the watershed will plan spring and summer projects and will receive year-round support to carry

out 25 watershed education and restoration projects. 200 metro city staff will study model

ordinances to implement the watershed goals in their comprehensive plans.



Total Funds: $5,000.00

Bachman’s Inc.

Public Displays of Stormwater Best Management Practices

Description: Bachman’s, Inc., will construct the following exhibits at their Lyndale Avenue Garden

Center: Rain Gardens, Permeable Pavers, Rain Barrel, Green Roof, and Aquatic Plants. The purpose is

to educate the public on the problems associated with storm water runoff and what can be done on

a residential scale to mitigate these problems. Each display will be an accurate representation of how

a homeowner can build or install one of these solutions in their own yard and will explain the

benefits of doing so.Bachman's Conserve Water With Beauty Webpage


Project Completed : November 2009


http://www.bachmans.com/Going-Green/divHomePage.html?cnb=GoingGreen&categoryCode=02&pageIndex=_pageIndexToken_Watershed


Cedar Manor Elementary

Loosestrife Beetle Relocation, Garlic Mustard and Buckthorn Eradication, and Watershed

Instruction

Description: Our main goals are to capture and relocate purple loosestrife beetles, collect and

destroy garlic mustard and buckthorn, and educate and assist students with water quality /

watershed instruction.




City of Medina

Holy Name lake City Park Restoration

Description: The City's goal is to promote environmentally-sustainable practices that provide

shoreline restoration and improve water quality at Holy Name Lake City Park.




City of Shorewood

Community Education Series: Two Workshops: “Lawn and Landscape Workshops”

Description: Educate homeowners about improving water quality and reducing contamination

through home lawn/garden care and landscaping. Two workshops will be offered and will

include options to purchase reduced cost rain barrels and native plants, and soil test kits.




Friends of CUE/Metro Blooms

Stormwater Educational Workshops and Annual Blooms Day Education Event

Description: Metro Blooms has collaborated with watershed districts and local government

organizations to educate, motivate, provide incentives for, and recognize community members

who garden with ecologically sound practices. These practices include installing rain gardens,

using native plants that thrive without pesticides and fertilizer, and redirecting downspouts and

water flow to prevent polluted water runoff that damages our watersheds. The locations for our

workshops and seminars that are in MCWD will be located in urban centers to attract and serve

the largest number of citizens possible. These locations will be planned in collaboration with

municipalities and partner organizations. At this time, we confirmed workshop locations in St.

Louis Park, SE Minneapolis (Nokomis), SW Minneapolis (Lynnhurst), and Plymouth. The funding

will be used to hold educational workshops and seminars on stormwater runoff mitigation


tactics (rain gardens, rain barrels, porous pavement, etc.), print an educational brochure, award

the most watershed-friendly garden awards, and for our annual Blooms Day educational event.


Project Completed: March 2009


Great River Greening

Landscape a 4-unit Apartment Building to Treat Stormwater On-Site with Infiltration

Practices and Native Plantings

Description: Landscape of a four-unit apartment building will be transformed from turf grass and

impermeable paving into a site where stormwater is treated on-site with a variety of low-cost

infiltration practices and native plantings. Volunteer installation is planned and design/results of

monitoring will be made available as an online resource.




Kenny Community School

Educational Signage for Raingardens & Educational Mailings

Description: This project includes the development and installation of permanent educational

signs for the Kenny school rain gardens, development and printing of teacher guides for the rain

gardens, and the printing and mailing of an informational flyer/invitation regarding the

educational signs to every neighborhood household.



Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Watershed Explorations: 10 Week Youth Education Program

Description: Watershed Explorations is a 10 week education program designed for urban youth

between the ages of 11 and 14 to learn about their neighborhood watershed through hands-on

activities and monitoring, service learning, and neighborhood outreach/leadership. Our 10 week

program in includes 3 locations: the area around Lynnhurst, Pearl, and Nokomis Recreation

Centers.




St. David’s Child Development & Family Services

Wetland Restoration and Water Quality Stewardship Project

Description: The Wetland Restoration and Water Quality Stewardship Project will further

restore our School Forest Wetland, prevent shoreline erosion, and promote environmental


stewardship through classroom and community-wide learning activities. Grant funds will

increase public awareness of water quality, coordinate activities to raise awareness, and

increase community access. The Project benefits children enrolled in our preschool program,

children from area school districts, community members and volunteers involved in service

projects, environmental education, and the resulting improved water quality and general

environmental health.


Project Completed: October 2008


TonkaBlue

“Pro-Lake in ’08 Campaign”

Description: TonkaBlue consists of several young and ambitious individuals who plan to utilize a

variety of methods that will effectively communicate our message of sustainability,

preservation, and stewardship. Our goals for the Pro-Lake in ’08 Campaign are as follows: Create

and distribute pertinent educational materials that allow students to construct knowledge of

environmental processes and human systems, foster a sense of stewardship for our

environment and a sense of personal responsibility for one’s actions, encourage social activism

and community involvement, and build awareness of pressing local issues.




Western Hennepin County Pioneers Association

Green Parking Lot

Description: The WHCPA building is at 1953 W. Wayzata Blvd. in Long Lake. Due to Highway 12

construction, there is a need to upgrade the facilities with an addition and site work, including a

parking. As part of the upgrade, WHCPA will install a green parking lot and install interpretive

signage (1 to 2 permanent signs, 18” x 24” or larger) outdoors at the green parking lot site. The

sign(s) will explain the technology of the parking lot, the need for stormwater management, and

the natural resources features on the site.





Cermak Rhoades Architects/TCGRC

The Roof-Bloom Project: Guidebook and Workshops

Description: This project will develop a printed guide and workshops for homeowners interested

in installing a green rooftop on a new or existing residential garage or other small outbuilding. A


demonstration project will be installed, including test plots monitoring the performance of

different plant varieties and growing media.




Edina Community Foundation/Friends of Edina Nature Center

Edina Carbon Footprint Woods: Plant 50 Trees

Description: In this project we will plant approximately 50 trees near the 62nd Street parking lot

of Pamela Park in Edina. Our goals are to help absorb, and compensate for, the carbon

dioxide/greenhouse gas emissions of Edinans to the atmosphere (some of which will be

monitored); to filter the parking lot’s run-off and other run-off before it reaches the waterway;

to beautify the community; and to continue the upgrading of the Minnehaha Creek watershed

in the Pamela Park area.


Project Completed: January 2008


Eisenhower Elementary School

Phase Two of the “We Are Water” Project

Description: Phase Two of the “We are Water” project will continue to build on the success of

Phase One (refer to the project report for an in-depth account of the first phase). The overall

goal of this educational play area is to inspire awareness and prompt lifetime conversation

between children, teachers, parents and families about personal stewardship of our water. The

Stepping Stones program is a pre-school program housed in the Hopkins schools -- in this case

Eisenhower Elementary -- making the play area is available to the 600 children and their families

as well.


Project Completed: October 2008


Folwell Middle School

“The Rain Garden Story”

Description: Our goal is to create sustainable science curriculum development for permanent

rain and vegetable gardens. We will conduct soil studies that examine interrelationships

between soil and water. We will also include a “story stone path” displaying the water cycle, in

addition to various service learning projects that will be carried out by students.





In the Heart of the Beast Theatre

“Invigorate the Common Well” Production

Description: A grant from the Cynthia Krieg Watershed Stewardship Fund will support Invigorate

the Common Well, an episodic production that will educate audiences about the city’s drinking

water source. Blending performance, science, and civic engagement, Invigorate the Common

Well offers an accessible and engaging means to examine issues of protecting, conserving and

managing our watershed. The production will be presented as part of our company’s 2007

performance season and is intended for both youth and adult audiences.


Project Completed: July 2007


Visit In the Heart of the Beast Webpage

Lake Minnetonka Garden Club

Lakeshore Public Information Project

Description: This project will be launched as part of an education exhibit open to the public

during a three-day flower show at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Following the exhibit,

outreach materials (a video and supplementary bookmark) will be distributed to citizens,

municipalities and organizations throughout the Lake Minnetonka region, including the City of

Minnetonka and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.




Metro Blooms/Friends of CUE

Metro/Minneapolis Blooms Raingarden Workshop Program

Description: Minneapolis / Metro Blooms requests funding from the Minnehaha Creek

Watershed District to expand the delivery of MB’s highly successful Rain Garden Workshops

(RGWs) Program. To respond to the burgeoning demand for these tested education programs,

MB plans to serve participants across the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District in collaboration

with community organizations and volunteers from February through October of 2007. In the

MCWD, we plan to provide educational workshops serving at least 525 people in this watershed;

small-group coaching seminars serving at least 420 people, at least 50 on-site requested Rain

Garden Consultations and 52 Rain Garden Installation and Native Plant Grants. We will develop

personal outreach to citizens in at least six MCWD communities. We will work with the MCWD

to determine locations for workshops and coaching sessions. The goals of these workshops,

piloted in 2005, are to educate as many citizens as possible to make positive and powerful

changes in their landscaping choices by installing rain gardens in order to increase storm water

infiltration directly into the aquifer and decrease polluted run-off into local storm water

management systems. MB will offer citizens easy, compelling, cost-effective and

http://www.hobt.org/


environmentally sound land management practices, while helping to build and strengthen

relationships within the community.




St. David's Child Development & Family Services

Wetland Restoration and Stewardship Project

Description: The Wetland Restoration and Stewardship Project joins educators, preschool

children, and community members in an effort to restore our School Forest Wetland and build

environmental stewardship through curriculum, activities and service learning.


Project Completed: September 2007


TonkaBlue

Preservation Through Education Project

Description: TonkaBlue consists of several young and ambitious individuals who plan to utilize a

variety of methods that together will effectively communicate our message of sustainability,

preservation, and stewardship. Our goals for the Preservation through Education Project are as

follows: create and distribute pertinent educational materials that allow students to construct

knowledge of environmental processes and human systems; foster a sense of stewardship for

our environment and a sense of personal responsibility for one’s actions; encourage social

activism and community involvement; build awareness of pressing local issues; and establish the

TonkaBlue brand as a symbol of those ideas through auxiliary products.





Carondelet Catholic School

7th Grade Water Quality Monitoring & Watershed Unit, and 5th and 6th Grades Minnehaha

Creek Watershed Day – Raingarden Planting

Description: Implementation of watershed service learning with macro invertebrate sampling,

soil test kit distribution, and native plantings.





Eisenhower Elementary School & Community Center

“We are Water” Project

Description: Design and construct a “We Are Water” watershed themed playground to educate

children and families in the community about water quality and water resource protection.


Project Completed: November 2010


Friends of CUE/Minneapolis Blooms

Educational Project: Raingarden Workshops

Description: Conduct rain garden community workshops and provide technical assistance from

landscape architects. Participant projects will receive ‘mini-grants’ to install rain gardens.


Project Completed: August 2007


Fulton Neighborhood Association

Fulton’s Rainwater Management Project

Description: Provide education and assistance to neighborhood residents for a decrease in the

amount of stormwater runoff to improve the water quality of Lake Harriet and Minnehaha

Creek by gutter redirection, rain barrels and rain gardens.



Gleason Lake Improvement Association

Protect the Source: Education and Intervention to Reduce Pollution to Gleason Lake

Description: Connecting students and lakeshore residents with the process of documenting and

assessing the flow of pollutants into Gleason Lake with the partnership of the City of Plymouth

to install stormwater reduction practices.

Project Started: January 23, 2006



Chapter in the Book: Plants for Stormwater Design – Volume II

Description: Produce "Plants for Stormwater Design Volume II," including a chapter dedicated to

the value of trees in stormwater management.





Kenny Neighborhood Association

Grass Lake Restoration

Description: Restoration of Grass Lake by developing a comprehensive plan focused on removal

of invasive species and promoting native vegetation, shoreline stabilization and a widespread

community education effort.


Project Completed: February 2008


Minnesota Waters

Educating Today’s Youth to Become Tomorrow’s Watershed Stewards

Description: Conduct teacher workshops on the Minnesota Lake Ecology curriculum and lead

schools in the lake-related community service learning projects.




MTS Communication Arts & Technology High School

Water Quality Monitoring Project using Macro invertebrates at the Minnehaha Creek

Description: Begin a student stream monitoring site in Minnehaha Creek partnered with the

River Watch program to assess the biodiversity of macro invertebrates and monitor water

quality parameters.



Orono Intermediate School

Freshwater Festival

Description: Integrate water studies into art, science, and music with a community wide water

festival in Spring 2006.




Projects Funded Spring 2005

East Harriet - Farmstead Neighborhood Association

Bryant/Barton Environmental Awareness Team!

Description: Bryant/BEAT! (Bryant/Barton Environmental Awareness Team) is a collaborative

project between East Harriet Farmstead Neighborhood Association (EHFNA) and Barton Open

School where students, school staff and EHFNA staff and volunteers are creating and

participating in a new "clean water curriculum," researching, creating and distributing clean


water educational materials, holding workshops, and posing everyday actions for neighborhood

residents and business owners to improve water quality in the community.

Project Started: May 31, 2005


Friends of CUE/Minneapolis Blooms

Native Plant Grants for Raingarden Workshop Participants

Description: The Minneapolis Blooms program is conducting a series of 17 workshops on how to

create rain gardens utilizing native plants. As an incentive for homeowners to implement what

they learned in the workshops, a $50 grant will be provided to gardeners to reimburse them for

their first $50 purchase of native perennial plants to be planted in their own rain garden.





Workshop Series For Professional Contractors

Description: Great River Greening promotes innovative landscape design and maintenance.

Project will include development and presentation of a series of workshops for professionals

and contractors to explain the basic principles and benefits of native plant and natural system

design and provide information on how to successfully design, install and maintain native

plantings.





Park Nicollet Heart Center at Methodist Hospital

Wetland Artwork and Narrative Installations

Description: Narratives displayed alongside wetland inspired artwork in common areas of the

new building to increase awareness of this precious resource.

Project Started: October 2004



Projects Funded Summer 2004

Dharma Field Zen Center

Integrated Water Management and Landscaping Project

Description: The project initiated an integrated water management/landscape design focused

on reducing water runoff through gutters and rain gardens, using native habitat, including urban

prairie.

Project Started: July 30, 2004



In the Heart of the Beast Theatre

Summer Art Programs for Inner-City Youth

Description: The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre created two summer arts

programs, "Art Bus" and "Lake Street Theater Club," for inner city youth that examined

watershed protection issues using puppet theater.

Project Started: August 2004



Park Nicollet Heart & Vascular Center

Interpretive Signage, Rain Gardens and Vegetated Buffers

Description: The Heart & Vascular Center at Methodist Hospital provided interpretive signage to

help the public understand how rain gardens and vegetated buffers on the property can

enhance water quality.




People for Parks/Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Longfellow Gardens in Minnehaha Park

Description: Stabilization for 237 linear feet of shoreline on the north bank of Minnehaha Creek

at Longfellow Gardens area, install interpretive panels focusing on shoreline stabilization and

native plantings.






City of Medina

Best Management Practices Education Program for Horse Owners

Description: The main purpose of Medina’s project was to inform and educate horse owners,

community leaders, and the general public about best management practices for rearing and

maintaining horses. One of the primary goals, for example, was to encourage environmentally

friendly manure and pasture management practices with the end result being protection of the

environment and improved water quality. In addition to the creation of an Education and

Resource Guide, workshops have been conducted and educational material has been distributed

to Medina residents these past several years.




Conservation League of Edina

Edina Lakes Waters Quality Testing and Public Education Project

Description: Citizen monitoring project on Pamela Lake and Lake Harvey in Edina. Presentation

and educational materials were also created and shared with the Edina community.

Project Started: February 5, 2004

Project Completed: May 2005


Projects Funded Summer 2003

El Colegio Charter School

El Colegio NPS Project

Description: The El Colegio Charter School converted approximately 10,000 square feet of

asphalt to pervious surface. The asphalt was replaced with two rain gardens/wetlands and

upland garden space for native prairie and cultivated gardens. Approximately 2,500 square feet

of this area will be designated as a wetland or wet garden. The site will be used as an on-going

demonstration site for all interested people.

Project Started: September 2003

Project Completed : January 2005


Kenwood School

Lake of the Isles/Minnehaha Creek Watershed Project

Description: Kenwood School expanded the existing 5th grade Mississippi River Project. The

grade 3 component will feature a comprehensive study of the Lake of the Isles. A CD was

produced featuring 3rd grade original songs and poetry honoring this lake area and our urban


watershed. The children created a booth for the Kenwood Learning Festival in May 2004 to

promote behaviors that will contribute to the health of the watershed.



Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy

Natural Landscaping and Runoff Abatement Demonstration in St. Louis Park, MN

Description: Installation of three rain gardens on the site. Runoff from lawns, rooftops, walks,

and parking lots was directed to the rain gardens for treatment. 1.1 acres of lawn was converted

to native vegetation and no-mow turf that will receive runoff and direct it into the swales and

rainwater gardens. The combination of gardens can remove 50 to 85 percent of the organic

matter, sediment, phosphorus, and hydrocarbons before runoff enters storm sewers. The

project area is located adjacent to Highway 100, just south of I-394 at the Lutheran Church of

the Reformation.




Crystal-Pierz Marine

2003 Lake Minnetonka Clean-Up Event (Expansion)

Description: Expand the Lake Minnetonka Clean-up event to actively include area residents and

business owners in 2003. Promotional and educational elements of the program focuses on

water quality protection, and includes mailings, signage, ads, and editorial-driven media

coverage which will mention MCWD as having partially funded.


Event Date: June 21, 2003


Gleason Lake Improvement Association and DNR

Luce Line Zero Runoff Demonstration Project

Description: The Gleason Lake Improvement Association and the MN DNR installed a runoff and

natural treatment demonstration plot at the Luce Line parking lot in Plymouth. The funds will be

used to install two drainage filtration and infiltration basins containing native vegetation (rain

gardens).





Hopkins High School Freshwater Academy

Freshwater Academy (Watershed Education Projects)

Description: Interdisciplinary environmental science program focusing on freshwater ecology

and water quality. Forty five students all day for 9 weeks twice per year. Those 90 students then

educate 120 Hopkins third graders for a half day about what they have learned. Then they meet

with city officials and staff to talk about enacting ordinances to protecting water quality. Funds

pay for equipment, educational materials, and honorariums for speakers.

Project Started: May 2003


Intermediate School District 287

The Water Quality Technology Project

Description: Special needs and low incidence learners will promote collaborative use of

technology-assisted date collection in science and mathematics classrooms for schools in the

MCWD District. Target is 560 students who will analyze data and design community service

projects to address the water quality issues they learn.


Project Completed: April 2009


Minnesota Groundwater Association

Water Resources of the Minnehaha Creek Watershed

Description: MGWA worked with about 50 students from 3 high schools in the District to assess

ground water resources, including stream flow data and water levels. They calculated the

distribution of water quality parameters in ground and surface water, and calculated

contributions of groundwater to streamflow and water quality of Minnehaha Creek. Students

disseminated the gathered information to the public and the MCWD.




Trillium Bay Homeowner's Association

Trillium Bay Homeowners Association Shoreline Stabilization and Restoration Project

Description: Stabilize the water levels of Trillium Bay pond to eliminate the continuing shoreline

erosion; restore shoreline to its original contour and stabilize it with plantings of native grasses

and vegetation. Plantings will create a wetland buffer where none presently exists; and improve

water quality of the pond and discharge to Lake Minnetonka through benefits of native

vegetation, removal of rough fish and construction of lakeside weir.





East Calhoun Community Organization

Gateway Sculpture Park

Description: The neighborhood organization constructed two storm water swales on the south

side and east side of the Gateway sculpture park to control erosion and rain water runoff.

Project Started: July 2002


Fulton Neighborhood Association

Fulton’s Landscaping for Rainwater Management Project

Description: Fulton coordinated a comprehensive project to educate and motivate homeowners

to make improvements to their property utilizing rainwater management principles. Project

components included education, consulting, and matching grants for homeowner rainwater

management projects.




Kenwood School

The Kenwood Calhoun Wetland Project

Description: Kenwood students conducted a scientific study of the SW Calhoun Pond Project,

learning how pollutants settle out in the ponds and the natural filtering of water by aquatic

plants. They wrote letters to public officials encouraging them to support programs that

promote clean water. Students also took two field trips, one to the Science museum and one Big

River Journey trip.



Linden Hills Neighborhood Association

Linden Hills Buckthorn Bust

Description: The Linden Hills Neighborhood Association will continue efforts to remove Common

Buckthorn and Glossy Buckthorn from residences in the Linden Hills neighborhood. They

completed a yard-by-yard survey of the neighborhood (begun last year) to educate neighbors

about the problems of buckthorn, its identification and proper removal. They assisted seniors

and disabled residents in removing the buckthorn, and provided a licensed tree company's

services to haul away all debris after removal from property.





Minneapolis Public Schools

Watershed Education through the Rivers Institute

Description: Joe Alfano attended the Rivers Institute at Hamline University during the summer

of 2002. He will share what he learned with teachers in the Minneapolis schools.

Project Started: July 31, 2002

Total Funds: $400.00

Standish Ericsson Neighborhood Association

SENA/MPRB Minnehaha Creek Invasive Species Removal and Shoreline Restoration

Project “Creek Rangers”

Description: SENA implemented a public education campaign to inform residents about the

benefits of native habitat restoration along Minnehaha Creek shoreline. They also established a

"Creek Rangers" volunteer program where neighbors will participate in clean-ups and

community education activities.


Event Date: October 2003



Benilde-St. Margaret School

Watershed Education

Description: Students continued restoration of the wetlands and holding ponds on school

campus, including: native plantings; establishment of a buffer zone between the parking lot,

athletic field and holding pond; biological control of purple loosestrife and buckthorn removal.

In addition, students researched, planned and created a web page on water quality.

Project Started: December 2001



Cedar Manor School

Waters to the Sea CD-Rom purchase

Description: Purchased Waters to the Sea CD-rom lab pack for classroom use.

Project Date: December 13, 2001


Center for Neighborhoods

Neighborhood Environmental Sustainability Conference

Description: A conference on environmental issues for neighborhood organizations and citizen

groups in Minneapolis was convened in January 2000 to link neighborhoods with environmental

founders and resource organizations.



Project Completed : April 2002

Event Date: January 26, 2002


Hennepin Conservation District

River Watch Program 2001-2002

Description: Students collected long-term water quality data that is useful in resource

management decisions. Results are reported to local agencies and general public. Seven schools

from the MCWD were involved.

Project Started: November 2001



Minnewashta Elementary School

Wetlands Watch Program

Description: 5th grade students organized and gave tours of their adopted wetland behind the

school. They taught other students to conduct water quality tests and biodiversity studies of a

wetland. They also worked with other schools in the district to protect and restore

environmental integrity of wetlands in and around their communities. Students made brochures

and posters to distribute within the community, and wrote articles to local newspapers to

increase public awareness about the health of wetlands.



Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association

Bi-Lingual Public Education Campaign and Earth Day Clean-Up Event

Description: Working with El Colegio Charter School, the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood

Association (PPNA)developed a multi-lingual public education campaign aimed at informing

non-English speaking residents about water quality protection.




Roosevelt High School

Watershed Education

Description: Students collected chemical water data, macroinvertebrate specimens in Lake

Hiawatha, Minnehaha Creek and the Mississippi River. Students presented results in a

community newsletter. Results will be incorporated into GIS maps and posted on a web site

linked to MCWD web site, presented to parents and local elementary and middle school

students.





The Green Institute

Neighborworks Week lake Street Clean-Up

Description: Educational materials on watershed protection were translated into non-English

languages through working with immigrant populations from East Africa, Southeast Asia and

Latin America. These same groups will be involved in storm drain stenciling in their

neighborhoods (South Minneapolis), with the stenciling being done in several languages.


Project Completed : Summer 2002



Art Start

Watershed Education and Clean-Up Art Project

Description: Art Start partnered with Barton School to study water quality, do a clean-up at Lake

Harriet, and create a sculpture with the found objects and debris. The sculpture will be

displayed at various sites in the neighborhood prior to permanent display. Students designed

water quality protections flyers to be distributed at the exhibit site.




City of Minnetonka

Minnehaha Creek/ St. David’s Streambank Restoration

Description: The City did a planting of the streambank along Minnehaha Creek with native

grasses and wildflowers (buckthorn was removed in summer 2000). Cub Scouts and St. David's

students were involved in planting.




Ericsson School

Inquiry Based learning Experiences for 5th Graders

Description: Two teachers attended the Hamline University Rivers Institute in July. They will

utilize Rivers to the Sea CD-Roms to teach students about water quality protection. Students

conducted water testing, clean-ups along Minnehaha Creek, documented landforms along the

creek, and posted results on the MCWD web site. Families were invited to participate.





Hale, Page, Diamond Lake Community Association

Buckthorn Removal Project, Native Plantings, and Clean-Up Projects

Description: Numerous water quality protection projects involving local volunteers, including

erosion control plantings around Diamond lake, non-native species abatement, and public

education about water quality protection.


Project Completed: August 2002


Hill School

Clean-ups, Storm-Drain markings, and Classes

Description: Students adopted Nelson Beach Park on Long Lake. They did cleanups, stenciling,

and studied water quality protection. They made a presentation to Long Lake administrators

about chemical use in the park, created posters for local stores, write articles for local papers,

and designed a brochure for local citizens. They participated in City Council meetings to discuss

water quality issues and present their findings and recommendations.




Hopkins High School Freshwater Academy

River Watch Sampling and Field Trip to Eagle Bluff

Description: The Freshwater Academy is an interdisciplinary environmental science program

focusing on freshwater ecology and water quality. The goal is to help students become

community leaders and informed citizens with regard to water. The funding paid for water

testing, clean-ups, purple loosestrife abatement, peer teaching at elementary school in

Minneapolis.




New Earth Partnership

Faith-based Congregational Watershed Improvement and Water Quality Education

Description: The New Earth Partnership includes four churches. This project includes two

demonstration landscaping projects, one at a church on Minnehaha creek, another in St Louis

Park. Signage and public education to members of congregations about water quality protection

included in the project. Funding pays for planting supplies, signage, brochures and a planting

consultant.





Orono Middle School

Clean-ups and Invasive Education

Description: Middle school students did a removal of buckthorn from wetland edges, purple

loosestrife control at Lake Classen, shoreline cleanups along Long Lake. Includes noxious weed

removal adjacent to sediment basin at Old Crystal Bay Rd and Cty Rd 6. Students wrote articles

about activities for school newsletters and local newspapers.




Westwood Nature Center

Canoe Trailer for Creek Access to Support Education Plans

Description: Westwood Nature Center purchased a canoe trailer. This allowed them to do trash

pick-ups along Minnehaha creek, educational canoe trips, and water quality monitoring. This

allows the staff to expand programming beyond the nature center to the creek.




Projects Funded in Fall 2000

Cedar Manor School

Watershed Education

Description: Students to collect loosestrife beetles and release them in areas around school,

clean up street debris to keep it from going into storm gutters, and do a storm drain stenciling

project. This is all incorporated into the classroom curriculum.



Hiawatha Elementary School

Rivers of Life, The Mississippi River Festival

Description: Students participated in a weeklong "Rivers of Life-Celebration of the Mississippi

River" with Hamline University Center for Global Environmental Education. Students did storm

drain stenciling and integrated water quality education into the curriculum.



Event Date: May 4, 2001



Hamline Center for Global Environmental Education

Watershed Partners: Non-Point Source Watershed Kiosk

Description: Hamline CGEE purchased an book laptop to create a watershed multimedia Kiosk,

with interactive educational experiences about non-point source pollution. The kiosk was on

display at libraries and events in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.




Projects Funded in Spring 2000

Ericsson School

Mississippi River/ Minnehaha Creek Project

Description: Heighten the awareness of students and increase their understanding of water

quality issues, best management practices, and their proximity to the Minnehaha Creek and

Mississippi Watersheds.




Ramsey IFAL

Water Quality Monitoring and Education

Description: To meet science standards through hands on, real world data collection and

analyzing; and to contribute to the database for water quality of the watershed.



Projects Funded in Fall 1999

Gleason Lake Improvement Association

Lake Users and Sub-watershed

Description: Create and mail approximately 6,000 lake user surveys to the Gleason Lake Sub-

watershed District. In addition to surveying lake users, Gleason Lake Improvement Association

plans to education homeowners and business within the watershed about best management

practices to keep water on their property and water conservation techniques.





Minnetonka Middle School

Watershed Stewardship Program

Description: The science department started a Watershed Stewardship Program at both middle

schools. Students used USGS topographical maps to construct 3-D models of their assigned

areas around Lake Minnetonka. They also collected and tested soil and water samples using a

Limnology Test kit.




Westwood Hills Environmental Education Center

Watershed Units 6th Grade, Jr. High, and High School

Description: The primary purpose of this project is to aid the St. Louis Park School District in

fulfilling or meeting graduation standards. This ongoing watershed project currently has 2 target

audiences, with the possibility of adding a third. Funds would be used to replace broken/lost

equipment, purchase new resources/reference materials, and purchase additional supplies and

equipment to facilitate greater individualized learning.

Project Started: On-going



Hennepin Conservation District

Macro-invertebrate monitoring and Education Project

Description: The major purpose of this project is to provide opportunities for high school &

college students to participate in stream monitoring and to gather data on the water quality of

Minnehaha Creek and its tributaries. Twice a year river monitoring is required for all

participants, In addition to this the schools have the opportunity to design their own

stewardship project or participate in one of our stewardship projects. For all of the participating

schools we provide equipment, training and supervision.



Minnetonka Public Schools

Pondwater Tour

Description: We plan to gather data on water quality by collecting macroinvertebrates via

HesterDendy collectors, testing water samples for nitrates and dissolved oxygen levels, lead

discussions on youth stewardship and practice youth stewardship by the distribution of

educational flyers to property owners in the Minnehaha Creek Watershed in the areas of our

own neighborhood as well as the off campus sites. The cities of Minnetonka, Deephaven,

Shorewood, Woodland, Greenwood, and Tonka Bay do not have storm sewers. As the project


grows we will be in contact with the cities of Hopkins, St Louis Park, Edina, and Minneapolis to

obtain permission to stencil drains in their communities.



Park Valley Catholic School

Wet and Wild Wednesday

Description: The purpose of this project is to make the students aware of the similarities and

differences in a natural and man-made ponds and observe through weekly fall and spring visits,

the seasonal changes. Water samples are collected, brought back to the classrooms, and tested

for pH, sulfate, sulfite, and ammonia levels. Air and water temperatures are taken at the sites.

Pond life is identified through field guides.



Washburn High School

Macro-invertebrate Sampling and habitat Studies of Minnehaha Creek

Description: Through the Hennepin Conservation District a classroom has been monitoring a site

on Minnehaha Creek with students by sampling and identifying macroinvertebrates. The

objectives are to expose students to a valid sampling technique used to monitor the

environment, gain awareness of the organisms inhabiting the creek and surrounding habitat,

and gain an understanding of the urban ecosystem and a desire to protect the environment and

continue to learn about the natural world.




Hamline University - Center for Global Environmental Education

West Metropolitan Education Program Integration Project

Description: The project will build upon an earlier program to continue building relationships

between twenty-four teachers representing seven districts from the inner city and suburban

areas that are all within the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District by bringing teachers and their

students together for joint environmental education field trips. Teachers from the inner city will

be paired with teachers from the suburbs for a minimum of one field trip that will take students

and their teacher to the partner school, or to take the partnering schools to a non-school site of

choice such as a nature area.




Kimberly Lone Elementary Science Club

Water Quality Awareness Activities

Description: The Kimberly Lane Science Club students will collect and record information using

HesterDendy sampling devices to learn what insects are available in the creek and in what

numbers and variety.



Westwood Hills Nature Center

Watershed Units: Grades 5th and 6th

Description: Students will be introduced to the concept of a watershed, locate their residence

on a map, locate the catch basin closest to their residence, determine if they live in Bassett

Creek or Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, sample and classify aquatic invertebrates using

HesterDendy's sample temperature, clarity, DO, and macrophytes.




Benilde-St. Margaret's School

The Lake and Stream Chemical and Biological Quality Analysis Laboratory

Description: The major purpose of the project is for students at BSM to continue to study

freshwater ecology and assess impacts land use may have on local water bodies. Students study

physical, biological, and chemical characteristics of Minnehaha Creek and Twin Lake ecosystems.

Students will survey habitat characteristics, collect and identify benthic macroinvertebrates, test

water samples, and communicate the results in group forums and to interested agencies.



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