Organizations | Events | Water Quality Data
There are organizations across the state that work to protect and restore water resources. Search below for organizations in the Twin Cities Metro area of Minnesota:
Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington, Groundwater Guardian Program, Rice Creek, St. Croix River, Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
Anoka Conservation District
County: Anoka
The Anoka Conservation District informs and assists county residents and landowners in natural resource management, conducts research and monitoring for soil and water conservation, promotes practices for soil and water conservation, and serves as a guide to local units of government in land use planning.
http://www.anokanaturalresources.com/acd/
Carver Soil and Water Conservation
County: Carver
The mission of the district is to provide high quality assistance to the land managers and citizens of Carver County for the protection of land and water resources.
http://www.co.carver.mn.us/departments/LWS/swcd.asp
Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District
County: Dakota
Providing high quality assistance to the citizens of Dakota County for the protection of land and water resources.
Hennepin Conservation District
County: Hennepin
The Hennepin Conservation District facilitates the conservation of water, soil, and related natural resources through education, technical assistance, and implementation of sound land use practices, in the most cost-effective manner, for the benefit of current and future generations.
http://www.hcd.hennepin.mn.us/
Chalchiuhtlicue Environmental Project
County: Hennepin
The Chalchiutlicue Environmental Project is dedicated to addressing many issues by creating solutions, doing grassroots community outreach and organizing, and by building collaborations and partnerships with other groups and communities across the Twin Cites.
http://www.chalchiutlicue.org/
Friends of Diamond Lake
County: Hennepin
Friends of Diamond Lake is a nonprofit, proactive, citizen-led organization dedicated to restoring, protecting and improving the natural resources of Diamond Lake and its watershed. Founded by a group of neighbors in early 2008, it is led by residents from the neighborhoods in the Diamond Lake area in South Minneapolis.
Friends of the Minnesota Valley
Counties: Hennepin and Central MN
Friends of the Minnesota Valley works to protect and enhance the natural resources of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed, including the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
http://www.friendsofmnvalley.org/
In the Heart of the Beast Theatre
County: Hennepin
Since 1973, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre has been using water, flour, newspaper, paint, and unlimited imagination to tell stories that explore the struggles and celebrations of human existence. Invigorate the Common Well is a multi-year initiative beginning with the emblematic renewal of the drinking fountain in the Avalon Theater Lobby as an act of commitment to the stewardship of Water, an initial act toward the invigoration of public fountains throughout the region.
Metro Blooms’ mission is to promote and celebrate gardening, to beautify our communities and help heal and protect our environment. We are a private nonprofit volunteer-based educational organization which seeks to partner with other organizations, businesses, professional associations, local governments and watershed districts to promote environmentally sound gardening and landscaping practices to improve the health of our land and water resources.
Minnehaha Creek Watershed District
Counties: Hennepin, Carver
The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District protects and improves water quality, manages stormwater, manages levels of Lake Minnetonka and flow of Minnehaha Creek (via Grays Bay Dam), restores and manages wetlands and lakes, and much more.
http://www.minnehahacreek.org/
Minnesota Technical Assistance Program
County: Hennepin
The Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) is an outreach program at the University of Minnesota that helps Minnesota businesses develop and implement industry-tailored solutions that prevent pollution at the source, maximize efficient use of resources, and reduce energy use and cost to improve public health and the environment.
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
County: Hennepin
The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board exists to provide places and recreation opportunities for all people to gather, celebrate, contemplate, and engage in activities that promote health, well-being, community, and the environment.
http://www.minneapolisparks.org
Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed
County: Hennepin
The Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission is a joint powers watershed management organization. The Pioneer-Sarah Creek watershed covers about 70.5 square miles in northwestern Hennepin County. The six cities in the watershed jointly manage the water resources in this area through the Commission.
http://www.pioneersarahcreek.org/
Three Rivers Park District
County: Hennepin
The mission of Three Rivers Park District is to promote environmental stewardship through recreation and education in a natural resources-based park system. Three Rivers Park District is a park system in the west suburban Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area of Minnesota.
http://www.threeriversparks.org/
Capitol Region Watershed District
County: Ramsey
Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD) is a special purpose local unit of government created to manage and protect part of the Mississippi River Basin, along with the wetlands, creeks and lakes that comprise the watershed and drain to the river. CRWD covers 40 square miles and includes portions of the cities of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood, Roseville and St. Paul.
http://www.capitolregionwd.org/
Eco Education is a non-profit environmental education organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, that has served thousands of students since 1991. We are committed to making environmental education relevant to urban learners and to helping them address their unique environmental concerns.
Friends of the Mississippi River
County: Ramsey
Friends of the Mississippi River is a leading citizen organization working to protect and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area. We believe the tremendous ecological, cultural, scenic and recreational values of the river must be carefully tended to ensure that they continue to be shared equally by all citizens and that they endure for future generations.
Great River Greening
County: Ramsey
Great River Greening leads and inspires community-based restoration of natural areas and open spaces. Our restoration efforts help preserve natural areas, protect clean air and water, and increase urban residents’ access to natural areas and sustainable open space.
http://www.greatrivergreening.org/
Hamline University – Center for Global Environmental Education (CGEE)
County: Ramsey
CGEE’s mission is to foster environmental literacy and stewardship in citizens of all ages. The Center achieves its mission through extensive graduate education programs for formal and non-formal educators, innovative K-12 learning initiatives for students, award-winning multimedia storytelling for all audiences, and community outreach projects that cross disciplines to connect with diverse audiences worldwide.
http://www.hamline.edu/education/cgee_site/
Lower Phalen Creek Project
County: Ramsey
The Lower Phalen Creek Project is a multi-faceted effort to improve local water quality and revitalize Saint Paul, Minnesota’s East Side neighborhoods by enhancing their ecological health and connections to the Mississippi River, and is governed by a community-based steering committee. The East Side Neighborhood Development Company (ESNDC) acts as the sponsor for the project.
http://www.mepartnership.org/sites/LOWERPHALENCREEK/
http://www.daytonsbluff.org/History/LowerPhalenCreek/LowerPhalenCreek.html
Metropolitan Council Environmental Services (MCES)
County: Ramsey
MCES exists to support the Met Council’s mission by protecting the public health and environment and providing its customers efficient and effective water resources management.
http://www.metrocouncil.org/environment
Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (National Park Service)
County: Ramsey
Friends of the Minnesota Valley works to protect and enhance the natural resources of the Lower Minnesota River Watershed, including the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
http://www.nps.gov/miss/parkmgmt/index.htm
Ramsey Conservation District
County: Ramsey
Our mission is to encourage the protection and improvement of Ramsey County’s natural resources in our urban/suburban environment through cooperative partnerships.
http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/cd/index.htm
Water Resources Center – University of Minnesota
County: Ramsey
The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center provides leadership in freshwater management through cutting-edge research, educational opportunities for students and professionals, and community outreach. For citizens and professionals, WRC provides oversight of community-based programs and training and assistance with issues related to impaired waters, stormwater management, agricultural practices and global water issues.
Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District
Counties: Ramsey, Washington
The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (RWMWD) is a special purpose governmental unit responsible for protecting the water resources of the watershed, located in the eastern portion of Ramsey County and the western edge of Washington County, Minnesota. RWMWD covers approximately 56 square miles that ultimately drain into the Mississippi River.
Scott Soil and Water Conservation District
County: Scott
We are dedicated to working directly with landowners and agencies to promote the wise and sustainable use of our land and water related resources, to educate and inform the public about these uses, to help solve resource problems within the District, and to serve as a county-wide natural resource information and referral center.
Washington Conservation District
County: Washington
Protecting natural resources is paramount to the WCD. The WCD provides technical and financial assistance to county residents, local government units, and watershed organizations as well as other agencies and organizations. We also assist these individuals and organizations with the planning, preparation, and implementation of natural resource management plans, implementation of the Wetland Conservation Act, natural resource education, and application of sound natural resource practices.
Groundwater Guardian Program and Well Water Wise
The Groundwater Guardian (GG) Green Site program recognizes good stewards of groundwater by encouraging managers of highly-managed green spaces (golf courses, ball fields, education campuses, parks, etc.) to implement, measure, and document their groundwater-friendly practices related to chemical use, water use, pollution prevention, water quality, and environmental stewardship.
http://www.groundwater.org/gg/greensites.html
Rice Creek Watershed District
Counties: Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey & Washington
The purpose of the Rice Creek Watershed District is to conserve and restore the water resources of the District for the beneficial use of current and future generations.
St. Croix River Association
County: Polk, WI
Our mission is to protect, restore and celebrate the St. Croix River and its watershed. Established in 1911, the St. Croix River Association “has been from the beginning a grassroots affair, linked inseparably to the St. Croix River itself. Starting as an informal organization, it evolved slowly out of the basic, direct interests of people living along the banks of the border river between Minnesota and Wisconsin.”
http://stcroixriverassociation.org/
Metro WaterShed Partners and Minnesota Water- Let’s Keep It Clean!
County: Twin Cities Metropolitan Area
Metro WaterShed Partners is a coalition of more than sixty public, private and non-profit organizations in the Twin Cities metro area. Through collaborative educational outreach, the Partners promote public understanding that inspires people to take action to protect and improve their local water resources. Since 1997, this award-winning partnership cooperates through educational projects including outreach and multimedia campaigns, networking, and sharing resources.
The WaterShed Partners have launched Minnesota Water- Let’s Keep It Clean! This website is an educational resource for water-quality information, updates, seasonal tips for better water quality; it also has free downloadable resources for classroom teachers and environmental educators.
http://www.hamline.edu/education/cgee_site/WaterShedPartners/index.html