Lake Superior is aptly named for many reasons, including its stature as Minnesota’s largest and most iconic freshwater resource. As the largest freshwater lake on Earth (by surface area), it contains 10 percent of our planet’s surface freshwater. It may surprise you that this massive body of water is experiencing the effects of climate … Read more
It seems like we’ve all been there — sitting in a meeting where the agenda is the same over and over again; or having that feeling of frustration when momentum for a project builds up only to run into familiar roadblocks; or knowing you need to pursue something different… just not sure what that something … Read more
What a wonderful evening it was! Thank you so much to everyone who supported our work for water through our 2019 Ice Out, Loon In gala. We’re delighted to report we raised over $50,000 for education, research, and policy programs that make our waters better for people in Minnesota. Thank you for buying tickets, making … Read more
Heartfelt thanks to Andrew Heiskary and his children Darlene and Steven for their thoughtful gift to Freshwater in honor of Andrew’s life and passion for Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and clean water. Steven shared this message: My father, Andrew Heiskary, passed away on November 23, 2018 at the age of 90. As a life-long fisherman, he … Read more
Despite the wild, wet spring weather, the mood was buoyant at the Master Naturalist conference in Willmar where Carrie Jennings, Freshwater’s research and policy director, gave the keynote presentation and led a field trip. She took them on a deep dive into the ecological history of the area, explaining how the glacial history set the … Read more
Three students who partnered with Freshwater Society on a project last summer won an Outstanding Research Award. The students, who are studying Applied Mathematics at St. Thomas, got an in-depth understanding of how groundwater works as they modeled the migration and evolution of thermal plumes in groundwater. Water that warms in the summer in mine … Read more
Freshwater’s Water Steward program continues to expand to new areas and audiences in 2019! Winona County hosted a new group of stewards at Whitewater State Park in March and April who are now poised to begin working on capstone projects and help the county with their work for water. The group came together for special … Read more
by Deirdre Coleman, program coordinator Master Water Stewards are gathering in circles this holiday season to share their water stories at the Water Bar & Public Studio (#Hygge). Freshwater is partnering with the Water Bar on Water Tender trainings, which teach people to serve drinking water from various sources while performing the traditional bartender duty … Read more
by Steve Woods and Carrie Jennings The 2019 legislative session will find Freshwater out front advocating for a two-year study to inform safe and economic approaches to groundwater recharge. In those areas where groundwater reserves are shrinking, we must understand the range of options and costs involved to enhance and replenish it. In doing so, … Read more
by Steve Woods, executive director Distractions. The movie “Up” has a wonderful recurring joke where the entire cast of dogs is distracted by someone yelling “squirrel!”. It also happens to work on my father as he engages in his own 30-Years War with the rodents plaguing his backyard bird feeder. Desktop squirrels. I just put … Read more
