Blog
Eighth Annual Big Island & Back 10k is Aug. 7
St. Paul, MN—Freshwater’s eighth annual Big Island & Back! 10K Paddle will take place on Saturday, August 7, 2021 starting at 9 am. Tune up your canoe, kayak, or paddleboard and head on over to Excelsior on Saturday, Aug. 7, for a friendly race out around Big Island and back.
Elections have consequences …
As a former political appointee, I was oft reminded of the phrase, “elections have consequences.” This refers, of course, to the reality that the majority has the right to its ideas and agendas and the minority party must find new ways to achieve their goals.
Water storage program included in final environment deal
After weeks of negotiation, the Minnesota Legislature has reached an agreement on a budget and policy changes for Minnesota’s environmental agencies, as well as the 2020 and 2021 LCCMR bills.
Inside baseball at the Capitol
Not many of you choose to follow the legislative session as closely as we do, so you may want some analogies to help understand where we find ourselves now.
A dry spring
The DNR Hydrologic Conditions Report is out for April and it confirms what gardeners, farmers and those with lawns already know: This spring has been unusually dry, with some areas more than three inches short on rain.
Water storage, environment policies hang in the balance
St. Paul, MN—As the Minnesota Legislature heads into the final stretch of the 2021 legislative session, millions of dollars for environment and natural resources spending and issues that have bipartisan support hangs in the balance due to negotiations on the Environment and Natural Resources Omnibus bill. While negotiations are normal part of the legislative process, there are a significant number of differences between the House and Senate bills that threaten to derail issues that have broad support.
Whiskey barrels get a new lease on life
Freshwater was able to contribute to the cost of diverter kits, which include a spigot and all other parts needed to convert the donated whiskey/wine barrels to functioning rain barrels. Close to a dozen Minnesota Water Stewards pitched in to help with assembly and talk about the impact rain barrels can have for water and the community.
History Doesn’t Repeat Itself, but It Often Rhymes
“History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes” – Mark Twain A recent story aired on NPR described the water filtration systems deployed by the people in the Mayan city … Read more
World Water Day 2021
March 22 is the day to acknowledge globally that water is essential for our health – people and everything that lives on Planet Earth. Water is finite and flows through … Read more
Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region: A Comparative Study with Engagement
Freshwater will lead a one-year project “Groundwater Governance in the Great Lakes Region: A Comparative Study with Engagement” funded by Chicago-based Joyce Foundation A team of researchers and facilitators from … Read more