Blog

Paddles, pizza, and pints: Big Island and Back a success!

August 13th 2022 – Kayakers, canoers and paddleboarders began to arrive at Excelsior Beach around 8AM. Some participants were there to race competitively, while others were just excited to get … Read more

Understanding tribal perspectives on water challenges in northern Minnesota

Freshwater, with the help of a 7-person organizing committee and contributions from The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and the work of intern, Bri Jol, organized and facilitated a 2-day workshop hosted … Read more

Season of Change

Executive Director John Linc Stine (right) with his wife Deb (left) and family Freshwater Friends, We can see the coming changes in the world around us – cooler weather, leaves … Read more

Freshwater shares Groundwater Governance story at US Water Alliance’s One Water Summit

  Earlier this month, several Freshwater staff attended the US Water Alliance’s One Water Summit in Milwaukee. There, they joined more than 800 participants from 263 cities representing a wide … Read more

Four people smiling with Weatherguide calendar at the Minnesota State Fair

Freshwater at the 2022 Minnesota State Fair

It’s almost time for corn dogs, mini donuts, and a fun-filled day at Great Minnesota get-together — the Minnesota State Fair. This year Freshwater is excited to be back at the state fair where we will be selling our 2023 Weather Environment Calendar and Almanac, like the pre-COVID days.

Jen Kader’s changing hats

This year is ushering a number of changes for Jen Kader. Beginning Jan. 1, 2022, she started in a new role at Freshwater as our director for engagement and systems change. Later that same month, her peers on the state’s Clean Water Council—all of whom are appointed by the governor to serve on the council—unanimously elected her council vice chair.

Illustration of a crowd of people

Protecting and restoring fresh water requires all of us

Freshwater recently renewed our organizational commitment to embrace our mission—to empower people to value and conserve fresh water—by thoughtfully considering the details and meaning of “people.” Whom do we mean when we say empowering people? Our board and staff realize, of course, that our mission is for all people, knowing that individually and collectively, all people need to share in protecting and conserving water.

cleaning up a beach

Adopt a River and upcoming cleanup event

Freshwater’s new Adopt a River program is up and running and already processing registrations for shoreline cleanups! Whether it’s a one-time cleanup or an adoption (a commitment to clean multiple times), a stretch of the Mississippi or your neighborhood pond, participating in Adopt a River could be a unique experience for you and your group.

woman smiling

Meet our GreenCorps member, Karyna Kloude

Minnesota GreenCorps member Karyna Kloude joined Freshwater in September to support our newest program, Adopt a River. The focus of her service year is  increasing the program’s sustainability, creating and revamping educational tools, and reaching new audiences.

child and adult's hands gardening

What Climate Change Means for Minnesotans’ Mental Health

At Freshwater, we have the privilege of reading public input from Minnesotans all over the state in our people-driven systems change work (like the One Watershed, One Plan efforts). Increasingly, we are reading public comments where people are noting that they have seen their weather change over the last decade, and these changes impact the health of their groundwater, surface waters, ecosystems, and wildlife.

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