MPCA Smart Salting for Property Management Certification Training
2023-11-14 08:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Online
This MPCA Smart Salting Property Management Certification Training is hosted by the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.
Learn how to reduce indoor and outdoor salt damage and related costs, recognize sustainable practices amongst your maintenance crew, hear ideas for managing liability, and more. Learn about the hidden costs of salt use on properties you own or manage. Gain understanding and take a comprehensive look at your winter maintenance strategy to discover possible improvement areas. The training will cover the new chloride requirements in the recently released MS4 permit.
The learning environment for this class is an interactive online format. Instructors will teach class online in real-time. Participants will interact with instructors and other participants through live chats, polls, and class discussion using the WebEx platform. We require attendees to actively participate in the online interactive class in addition to passing the online test to receive certification.
Who should attend?

Management-level property managers
Business owners/private contractors
Environmental professionals
MS4 permit staff
Public works directors and local government decision-makers
Public and private property owners and managers
Those who hire or supervise winter maintenance staff

What you’ll learn:

More efficient operations – Improve winter maintenance practices on your properties; hear others success. Becoming salt smart allows more time for other tasks.
Save money – Reduce salt purchases annual infrastructure and vegetation damage costs and more
Salt and snow storage – Rethink usual habits and reduce chloride runoff from wasted salt
Know your legal issues – Discuss managing liability and regulatory requirements
Reduce complaints – Guidance and resources for managing customer and staff expectations
Protect Minnesota’s valuable water resources – Learn about the permanent environmental impacts of chloride pollution

Imagine the benefits your organization could see from reducing salt use on your property!
Take the online test at the end of training to get certified and be listed on the MPCA Smart Salting webpage. Certificates are sent to Minnesota participants only and are valid for 3 years.
Registration is required. There is no limit on number of participants watching from the same device, but each individual must also be registered.
Training questions? Contact the MPCA Smart Salting Training Program: smartsalting.pca@state.mn.us.
Funding for these trainings is provided by Mississippi Watershed Management Organization and the MPCA Smart Salting Training Program through the Clean Water Fund and the Environmental & Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Give to the Max Day
2023-11-16 | MN
Minnesota’s 15th annual Give to the Max Day celebrates more than 6,000 nonprofits and schools across our state, and it’s a great time to show your support for Freshwater!
Early giving begins on November 1st, and you can make your tax deductible donation at: www.givemn.org/organization/Freshwater-Society.

"Purified" Book Launch
2023-11-16 17:30 - 19:30 | Hamline University, 774 Snelling Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN, 55104, United States
Hamline’s Center for Global Environmental Education is hosting a free event for the launch of Peter Annin’s new book, Purified: How Recycled Sewage is Transforming Our Water. Peter is the Director of the Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation at Northland College and the author of Great Lakes Water Wars.
In his new book, Peter explores how recycled water has been consumed in California, Florida, Texas and Virginia – in some cases for years – as surface and groundwater sources for drinking water are limited. In some areas of the country, primarily because of climate change, there are only two realistic sources for new water supplies – the ocean and the toilet. Surprisingly, the toilet is the more sustainable option. Recycled water is so heavily treated it is often cleaner than existing water supplies.

Minnesota Water Steward Info Session
2023-11-21 12:00 - 13:00, 2023-11-28 17:00 - 18:00 | Online
Come learn what it takes to become a Water Steward! Along with submitting an application, all program applicants need to attend an information session. Anyone is welcome to attend.
Register at minnesotawaterstewards.org/info-sessions/

Environmental Justice Series: What's in your water?
2023-11-30 18:30 - 20:30 | 30K FT, 1351 Arcade Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55106, United States
Join the Environmental Justice Coordinating Council and Freshwater for an educational session on water issues facing Saint Paul’s East Side community.
Register at https://rb.gy/cao89. The first 25 people to register will receive a $50 gift card for participating!

UPRIVER: A Watershed Film
2023-12-05 19:00 - 20:30 | The Main Cinema, 115 SE Main Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, United States
Our next Moos Family Speaker Series presentation will feature a free big-screen showing of UPRIVER, a documentary that explores one of the nation’s most active river conservation movements. Within Oregon’s Willamette River system, the film focuses on people from all walks of life who are coming together to revive the health of this large river and the life it supports.
We hope this film inspires new thinking on watershed partnerships here in the Midwest – and how we might creatively share our conservation stories.
The post-show panel discussion will include:

Jeremy Monroe (Freshwaters Illustrated founder and director of “UPRIVER”)
Barbara Coffin (producer of “Troubled Waters: A Mississippi River Story”)
John Whitehead (Emmy Award winning documentary filmmaker)
Patrick Moore (former communications director for Pioneer PBS)

Doors at 6:30 p.m., film at 7 p.m., panel discussion at 8 p.m. Register here.

Little Falls Community Drinking Water Meeting
2023-12-15 18:00 - 20:00 | City Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 7th Avenue NE, Little Falls, MN, 56345, United States
Do you trust your tap water? Do you drink it? Who is responsible for protecting it? Where can you get more information? We’re engaging Minnesota communities in a conversation about tap water. You’ll have the opportunity to share your thoughts, connect with neighbors, and learn about the tap water where you live.
Snacks and childcare are provided, and the first 25 participants to register will get a $50 gift card.
Join us for the conversation in Little Falls

St. Cloud Community Drinking Water Meeting with Community Grassroots Solutions
2023-12-16 16:00 - 18:00 | Nelson Mandela Center, 3333 West Division Street, Suite 125, St. Cloud, MN, 56301, United States
Do you trust your tap water? Do you drink it? Who is responsible for protecting it? Where can you get more information? We’re engaging Minnesota communities in a conversation about tap water. You’ll have the opportunity to share your thoughts, connect with neighbors, and learn about the tap water where you live.
Snacks and childcare are provided, and the first 25 participants to register will get a $50 gift card.
Join us for the conversation in St. Cloud

Northfield Community Drinking Water Meeting
2023-12-19 18:00 - 20:00 | Northfield Community Education Center, 700 Lincoln Parkway, Northfield, MN, 55057, United States
Do you trust your tap water? Do you drink it? Who is responsible for protecting it? Where can you get more information? We’re engaging Minnesota communities in a conversation about tap water. You’ll have the opportunity to share your thoughts, connect with neighbors, and learn about the tap water where you live.
Private well owners: bring a sample of your water and get it tested for free! Testing provided by Rice Soil and Water Conservation District.
Snacks and childcare are provided, and the first 25 participants to register will get a $50 gift card.
Join us for the conversation in Northfield

Water Reuse Symposium 2024
2024-03-11 - 2024-03-14 | Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, CO, United States
Freshwater is a sponsor for the 2024 WateReuse Symposium in Denver, Colorado. This is the premier conference on water recycling — attracting water professionals and water reuse practitioners globally for knowledge-sharing, networking and collaboration.
The event is planned in collaboration with The Water Research Foundation and includes engaging sessions on the latest water reuse research on topics including agricultural, industrial, and onsite reuse. The event will include tours of innovative reuse projects in the region and a keynote address from photographer, adventurer and author Pete McBride, along with the inaugural Water Reuse Technology Showcase.

The Great Minnesota Icebreaker
2024-05-13 18:00 - 20:30 | Back Channel Brewing Co., 4787 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN, 55384, United States
Join us May 13th for The Great Minnesota Icebreaker, celebrating ice-out season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!
Register here
About the event
The Great Minnesota Icebreaker is a celebration and networking event to mark the conclusion of a historic ice-out season in Minnesota. We welcome Freshwater members and all champions of water conservation to join us for an evening of camaraderie, food and drink, and learning about what is shaping up to be a very early ice-out for many lakes across the state.
Our panel discussion and Q&A features Minnesota State Climatologist Luigi Romolo, and MPR Meteorologist Sven Sundgaard.
Set along the banks of Lake Minnetonka, not far from where Freshwater was originally founded, this event will be held Monday, May 13th, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Back Channel Brewing in Spring Park, MN.
General admission is $10, which includes hors d’oeuvres and a complimentary drink token. Admission is free for Freshwater members and their guests (watch your email for a coupon code, or contact us for details). Please be sure to register all guests ahead of the celebration.
Schedule

6 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. – Check-in, welcome by Tom Skramstad, Freshwater emeritus director
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. – Panel discussion and Q&A
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. – Socialize and wrap up

Thanks to our event sponsor!

An Update on Water Reuse in Minnesota
2024-06-06 15:00 - 16:30 | Barr Engineering, 4300 MarketPointe Drive, Minneapolis, 55435, United States
Water reuse projects are being implemented throughout Minnesota and across the country. There are numerous opportunities to leverage alternative water sources as a resource. Despite this opportunity, we continue to face barriers that limit implementation and successful operation of reuse systems. During this workshop, hosted by Freshwater and Barr Engineering, we aim to learn from one another and push the conversation related to water reuse forward.
This workshop will include a brief update on water reuse in the state and nationally, and then will focus on best practices and lessons learned for successful implementation and operations and maintenance of reuse systems.
Agenda

Recap of water reuse drivers and common applications.
Updates on regulation and guidance in Minnesota.
Updates on national reuse efforts.
Panel discussion on lessons learned for successful implementation and operation and maintenance (O&M) of reuse facilities, including:

Bryan Bear, City of Hugo
Kristin Seaman, City of Woodbury
Forrest Kelley, Capitol Region Watershed District
Nancy Stowe, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Discuss ideas for future discussions and schedule site visits for Summer 2024.
Post-session happy hour from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Lake of the Isles Trash Boom Installation
2024-06-26 17:00 - 19:00 | Euclide Place and Lake of the Isles Parkway East, Minneapolis, MN, United States
Join us at Lake of the Isles for installation of a new trash boom capture system, followed by an ice cream social at nearby Levin Park.
The boom has a twofold benefit – it will capture trash from entering the lake through a storm drain outfall, and it will raise awareness of how pollutants travel from city streets into our lakes and rivers.
Partners on this project include Freshwater, City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, East Isles Neighborhood Association, River Network, and Osprey Initiative.

Moos Webinar: Shannon Spurlock
2024-06-27 11:30 - 12:30 | Zoom webinar, MN, United States
“Opportunities for Water Reuse and Recharge in Minnesota”
Join Shannon Spurlock over the lunch hour on Thursday, June 27, for a virtual talk on water reuse and recharge. Spurlock is a senior researcher in Public Policy and Water Uptake at the Pacific Institute. Prior to the Pacific Institute, she ran a consulting business and worked on projects including researching interagency collaboration among water utilities to enhance water reuse. She received a Master of Nonprofit Management from Regis University and holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado.
Topics will include:

Local and global opportunities for water reuse and recharge across sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing.
The importance of technical evaluations and policy initiatives on water reuse and managed aquifer recharge projects.
Early-stage recommendations for Minnesota to develop its water reuse community, including establishing policies and guidelines.

Register and get more info on the event’s main page

Salt Symposium
2024-08-06 - 2024-08-07 | Livestream event
Salt Symposium, a 2-day livestream event, celebrates the optimization of necessary salt use to improve community sustainability and protect vital freshwater systems and infrastructure.

Big Island and Back Paddle Event
2024-08-10 09:00 - 13:00 | Excelsior Commons Beach, 135 Lake Street, Excelsior, MN, 55331, United States
Tune up your canoe, kayak or paddleboard and head on over to Excelsior for a friendly race out around Big Island and back. We’ll start 9 a.m. at Excelsior Public Beach and paddle to the starting line together. Our goal is to get paddlers of all ages and skill levels out on Lake Minnetonka for a great community summer event and raise money for a couple of very worthy causes.
Don’t miss the after-party at Excelsior Brewing Company beginning at 11 a.m. for refreshments from Joey Nova’s, music and of course, beer! Awards and door prizes will be given away by our wonderful sponsors. Make a day of it and explore beautiful Excelsior!
Proceeds from this event will be donated to the ICA Food Shelf program and Freshwater Society. Thank you for your support!
Register here!

Info session: Updating Minnesota's Nutrient Reduction Strategy
2024-08-12 13:00 - 14:00 | Online
Curious about changes in nitrogen and phosphorus levels in Minnesota’s major rivers?
Learn about the data collected and how it’s used to track river nutrient levels. Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey, Metropolitan Council, and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency will share insights on the progress needed to meet nutrient reduction goals.
The speakers are among the 50 people working to complete a 10-year update to the Minnesota Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Established in 2014, this strategy guides our state’s efforts to reduce nutrient pollution
Excessive nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, pose a significant problem for Minnesota’s lakes and rivers as well as downstream waters including the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, and the Gulf of Mexico.
Who should attend: Anyone interested in the state’s efforts to reduce nutrients in our waters, including partners from agricultural, business, environmental communitiewastewater operators, environmental communities, and the general public.
Format: Information session with Q&A.
How to register: No advance registration required. Just click the event link to join on August 12 at 1 p.m.

Water Connects Us
2024-09-12 17:00 - 20:00 | Forgotten Star Brewing, 38 Northern Stacks Drive, Fridley, MN, 55421, United States
Join us for Water Connects Us, Freshwater’s annual benefit to connect around the role we can each play in protecting water now and for future generations!
Gather with supporters and partners of Freshwater for a night of networking, comradery, and learning about our work, from upstream to downstream. This won’t be a seated event, but rather an open house style opportunity to mingle, learn about Freshwater’s current work, and celebrate our shared commitment to inspire and empower people to value and preserve water. Heavy appetizers and a ticket for a beverage will be provided.
This year’s event will be held September 12, 2024, 5 p.m. at Forgotten Star Brewing in Fridley, Minnesota.
Register today!

City of Waconia stormwater reuse site visit
2024-09-26 14:30 - 16:00 | City of Waconia water reuse site, 950 Waconia Parkway South, Waconia, MN, 55387, United States
Join us for a tour of City of Waconia stormwater reuse projects (with treatment), followed by an optional happy hour at Waconia Brewing from 4 p.m. to 5 :30 p.m.
Please register below for this free event.

City of Hugo stormwater reuse site visit
2024-10-01 14:30 - 16:00 | Peder Pederson Pavilion (City of Hugo Lions Park), 5524 Upper 146th Street, Hugo, MN, 55038, United States
Join us for a tour of City of Hugo stormwater reuse projects (without advanced treatment), followed by an optional happy hour at the Blue Heron Grill from 4 p.m. to 5 :30 p.m.
Please register below for this free event.

Confluence: Minnesota Water Stewards program anniversary
2024-10-07 18:00 - 20:00 | Minneapolis Cider Company, 701 SE 9th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, United States
Join us in celebrating the 11th anniversary of Minnesota Water Stewards on Monday, October 7, from 6-8 pm at the Minneapolis Cider Company! Discover the innovative capstone projects of our graduating Stewards, reflect on a decade of groundbreaking work, and connect with others dedicated to improving the health of our waters.
Save the date and stay tuned for more details about this special evening.

City of Woodbury stormwater reuse site visit
2024-10-09 15:00 - 16:00 | Woodbury stormwater reuse site, 5018 Chestnut Drive, Woodbury, MN, 55129, United States
Join us for a tour of City of Woodbury stormwater reuse projects in a private development (without advanced treatment), followed by an optional happy hour at 3rd Act Brewery from 4 p.m. to 5 :30 p.m.
NOTE: The starting location is the address of a private residence adjacent to the reuse irrigation pond. The pond is directly across the road from the residence, and the meeting location will be clear upon arrival. Please park on the road next to the pond.
Please register below for this free event.

Give to the Max Day 2024
2024-11-21 | Online
Support our work from upstream to downstream
Join us in our shared mission to inspire and empower people to value and preserve water! Freshwater relies on individual donations to fund 10 percent of our annual budget, helping us tackle complex water issues by collaborating with local communities, businesses, researchers, government agencies and conservation partners.

Special screening of Our Blue World
2025-02-25 18:00 - 19:30 | Zeitgeist Theater, 222 E. Superior Street, Duluth, MN, 55802, United States
Join Freshwater for a special screening of “Our Blue World” at the Zeitgeist Theater in Duluth. The film explores humanity’s profound relationship with water and reveals how human agency can help rebalance the planet’s water systems. By taking a deep dive into the lives of dynamic and visionary people around the world, this beautiful, eye-opening and moving film sets out to reveal our profound relationship with water and its role as the nourishing life force for all that lives on this planet.
Following the film, join us for a gathering at nearby Blacklist Brewing!
Purchase tickets here.

SDG Roundtable: In Search of Water Circularity
2025-03-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Sunrise Banks Corporate Headquarters, 2525 Wabash Ave., SAINT PAUL, MN, 55114, United States
We are excited to partner with Global Minnesota for their Sustainable Development Goals Roundtable on water circularity. Join this important conversation around water reuse and recycling in advance of World Water Day 2025.
Minnesota-based Kurita America, part of the Kurita Group headquartered in Japan, will deliver the keynote presentation. You’ll also hear from other globally-minded water experts, including Oriana Raabe, Senior Director of Sustainability at Pentair and President of the Pentair Foundation, during a panel addressing some of today’s pressing water conservation questions.
Register here.

The Great Minnesota Icebreaker
2025-04-14 18:00 - 20:30 | Back Channel Brewing Co., 4787 Shoreline Drive, Spring Park, MN, 55384, United States
Join us for The Great Minnesota Icebreaker, celebrating ice-out season in the Land of 10,000 Lakes!
About the event
The Great Minnesota Icebreaker is a celebration and networking event to mark the annual ice-out season in Minnesota. We welcome Freshwater members and all champions of water conservation to join us for an evening of camaraderie, food and drink along the banks of Lake Minnetonka, not far from where Freshwater was originally founded.
This year’s event will be held Monday, April 14th, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Back Channel Brewing in Spring Park, Minnesota.
Panel discussion: Lakes, wetlands and water quality
Enjoy an informative discussion as we explore various facets of lake science and management, wetland conservation, shoreline health, invasive species, and sustainability practices. Our guest panelists will be:
Jeff Hanratty – Managing Director of National Sustainability Programs at Ducks Unlimited and partner of Freshwater on the Minnesota One Water Delegation. Jeff works at the intersection of regeneration, conservation and corporate stewardship and is a key connector in aligning DU’s conservation efforts and ecosystem services to corporate sustainability needs. He’s passionate about sustainability, relentlessly promotes that it’s value must be part of business deals and is a conservationist and avid outdoorsman. Jeff raised his family on the shores of Lake Minnetonka and has been a youth mentor in the local community helping create trap shooting teams in area schools. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota and a master’s degree in EHS management from the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Steve McComas – Owner of Blue Water Science is a columnist at Outdoor News and occasionally checks in on Joe Soucheray’s Garage Logic podcast as the Lake Detective. Steve has written two books on lake management topics and published over 1,000 journal articles and reports in the last 40 years. He has worked on lakes conducting surveys and lake improvement projects in various parts of the world including every bay in Lake Minnetonka.
Schedule

6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Doors open, social hour
7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Welcome and panel discussion
7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Networking and wrap-up

Admission
General admission is $20, which includes access to networking happy hour, hors d’oeuvres buffet, and a complimentary drink token. Admission is free for Freshwater members (contact us for details).
Register here

Earth Week Water Party
2025-04-23 18:30 - 21:00 | Malcolm Yards, 501 30th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55414, United States
Join the Metropolitan Council, Towerside Innovation District, and Freshwater for an evening celebrating Earth Day! On Wednesday, April 23, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. enjoy tasty snacks and refreshments at Malcolm Yards in Minneapolis while connecting with artists, engaged residents and industry professionals.
Immerse yourself in the world of water through:

A panel discussion about the ways in which water weaves connection through government, recreation, arts, and culture – and where you fit in!
Interactive art-creation.
Relaxing sound bath experiences.
Vast projections on the United Crushers building, including footage from water treatment processes and water-related graphics and animations.
Tabling displays by organizations from around our region.

RSVP here for this free event!

2°C Climate Change Exhibit and Performance
2025-07-31 - 2025-08-09 | Hamilton Studio, 3112 West 28th Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55416, United States
2°C (two degrees Celsius) is an exhibit that uses powerful metaphor, provocative imagery and dark humor through the language of paint to confront humanity’s complex relationship with our fragile planet.
Running July 31 through August 9 at Hamilton Studio in Minneapolis, the exhibit consists of oil paintings, on canvas and panel, by artists Mark Granlund and Drevis Hager. Exploring the landscapes of the Midwest (and the mind) these two painters provide a unique vision of the future. 2°C invites viewers to contemplate our pivotal ecological moment through works that are at once beautiful, unsettling and a little bit quirky.
A free opening reception was held Thursday, July 31, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a short artist’s talk at 7 p.m. In addition, Freshwater will co-host an sold out music and poetry performance on Thursday, August 7, featuring Prudence Johnson, Dean Magraw, Kyle Tran Mhyre and Tom Cassidy. Proceeds from art sales, donations and the August 7 event go to support Freshwater’s work for water.
Schedule of events

Opening Reception: Thursday, July 31, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Gallery hours: Saturday, August 2, noon to 4 p.m.
Music and spoken word performance: August 7, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
Final Gallery hours: Saturday, August 9, noon to 4 p.m.

Minnesota Water Innovation Social Hour
2025-08-07 17:00 - 19:00 | Utepils Brewing, 225 Thomas Avenue N #700, Minneapolis, MN, 55405, United States
Global Minnesota is pleased to partner with Burnt Island Ventures as well as Freshwater Society to host an informal gathering of our local water technology community.
Join us for an informal social time bringing together Minnesota’s water innovation ecosystem. This is a chance to connect with fellow water tech entrepreneurs, investors, policy-makers, nonprofit leaders, and professionals all working to accelerate water innovation in our state and beyond. Whether you’re advancing solutions, crafting policy, funding innovation, or driving community change – this gathering is for you.
This will be a (mostly) unstructured event with brief remarks. Food and drink available for purchase. RSVP recommended.
