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Home My WebLink About2015-04-08 PACKET 05.9B.Spring event season is here! Raingarden and Landscape Design: Raingarden workshops are scheduled for April 13, 6pm at Bayport Library and April 14, 6pm at Marine Town Hall ( EMWREP), as well as May 14 at Maplewood Nature Center (RWMWD). Ramsey - Washington Metro Watershed District will also be sponsoring a Sustainable Landscaping workshop on April 16 at Maplewood Library. Lawn Care: For the first time, EMWREP will be offering lawn care workshops for homeowners on April 21 at Woodbury Central Park and April 28 at Hugo City Hall. The Woodbury workshop will feature an open house format with three short presentations and education stations. The Hugo workshop will follow a more traditional workshop format but will also include family - friendly activities. Raingarden Maintenance: Maintenance workshops for homeowners with curb -cut raingardens will be held on May 13 in Lake Elmo and May 18 in Stillwater. These workshops will be outdoor and hands -on, designed to help people with the basics of garden care, including keeping inlets clean, weeding, and plant replacement. Earth Day Activities: Earth Day and Arbor Day weekends are always busy; the Washington Conservation District tree and rain barrel sale pick up will be happening April 24 and 25 at the County Fairgrounds, and Great River Greening is organizing volunteers to plant trees at the South Washington Watershed District Central Draw facility. In addition, EMWREP will be coordinating a full room of water education activities at the Mahtomedi Earth Day event on April 25, on behalf of Rice Creek and Valley Branch Watershed Districts. The event will be held at the District Education Center. Rain barrel mania! This spring, we are partnering with Cedar Hill Natives and the Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM) to provide multiple opportunities for local residents to acquire rain barrels. Rain barrel and compost bin sale: From now until April 24, people can order low -cost rain barrels and compost bins through RAM and pick them up at the Washington County Fairground during the WCD tree sale, April 24, 8am -8pm or April 25, 8am -noon. Ordering info at www.mnwcd.org. Make'N'Take Rain barrel Workshops: We will also be hosting two make'n'take rain barrel workshops on May 18, 6pm in Oakdale (Washington Conservation Center) and May 19, 6pm in Woodbury (County Environmental Center). 1 The snow is melting and spring education is officially underway. In addition to attending a number of community events, EMWREP and partners will be hosting several workshops for the public between now and June: Upcoming Professional Trainin s 81 p 9 9 Register by April 3 for a Turfgrass Maintenance Workshop - FREE Friday, April 10 8:O0a.m.- 2:OOp.m. at the Washington Conservation Center in Oakdale This one -day course is for public and private turfgrass maintenance professionals and can help MS4 partners to meet training requirements for Minimum Control Measure 6. The workshop will cover best management practices for lawn /turf maintenance that will save you time and money while protecting our water resources. You will have the opportunity to take a test for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Level 1 Certification for summer turf care best management practices. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. j y 1► Register by email to: tb.barns(cPrwmwd.ori, or call 651- 792 -7959 Stormwater Practices Inspection and Maintenance Certification May 5 -6 at Cottage Grove City Hall $200 This course is designed for those who inspect, maintain or direct maintenance on stormwater control measures and practices, such as ponds and infiltration systems. Learn the fundamentals of BMP processes, mechanics, inspections, operations and maintenance needs, and how to create and execute an inspection maintenance work plan. Attendees who complete this course and pass the voluntary exam will be certified in Stormwater Management Practice Maintenance by the University of Minnesota Erosion and Stormwater Management Certification Program. Register on -line at: �ttp:/ /z.umn.edu /may20l5SWL or call 612- 625 -9733 2015 St. Croix Summit: Changing Climate, Changing Times; Reaching New Audiences April 29, 8am -4pm at the Water Street Inn in Stillwater $55 This will be a re- invention of the St. Croix Basin conference that has been held in River Falls in past years. There will still be an emphasis on the river and improving water quality, but with a broader our focus this year to incorporate some of the many other factors that impact humans and ecosystems in the St. Croix River Basin. *Climate change — impacts on humans, ecosystems, forests, and city Stormwater management * Reaching new audiences — working inclusively and engaging youth and the public * What is your vision for the St. Croix River? — led by artist Susan Arm ington * Bringing it all together — led by a team of local Improv actors Register on -line at: , . , iw.stcroixriverassociation.org /event /st- croix- summit 2 Recent Education Activities Meet your Storm Drain Goalies! An Educational Effort with the Watershed Partners Do you know where your EMWREP educators are on the weekend? Angie Hong worked the Storm Drain Goalie booth at a Minnesota Wild game on December 5 and Jenn Radtke will be at the Wild game on March 28th during a night the Wild are dedicating to Environmental Issues and Action. www .facebook.com /StormDrainGoalie Da Vinci Fest - Stillwater Area Schools Jan. 10th -Angie Hong and Jenn Radtke set up a snowy river landscape (i.e. dried potato flakes) that drew in many of the festival's younger participants. While the children were engaged, we were able to talk with parents and families about chloride contamination and steps they can take at home to reduce salt use and protect the St. Croix River. Learn more at: www. tinytiri .com /T'CMAChlorideProject Horse Workshop January 27th - Wendy Griffin coordinated an educational workshop for horse owners. Participants learned about hay bags, proper saddle fit, and horse nutrition, as well as assistance available for erosion control and other clean water projects. 40 people attended. League of Women Voters, St. Croix Valley Feb. 18th - Jenn Radtke presented to 12 members of the League of Women Voters at Boutwell's in Stillwater on the State of the St. Croix River, local groundwater and conservation concerns, MIDS, and actions that they can take at home to protect clean water, including installing native raingardens and rain barrels. Tri -Lakes Association: Feb. 25 -Angie Hong brought information about well water testing and the Washington County septic replacement program, as well as Valley Branch WD's BMP cost -share programs for raingardens and shorelines. Lake Phalen Freeze Fest Feb. 7th -Angie Hong cued puppets in the crowd as families gathered to hear the story of Shingebiss and the Winter Maker. Other activities at the event sponsored by RWMWD included ice fishing and campfire foods. Lily Lake Neighborhood Party Feb. 18 -Angie Hong and Bryan Pynn talked to key landowners about installing raingardens to improve lake water quality. 3 Evaluating the Impact of Education 2015 Conservation Project Survey Results During January, EMWREP conducted a survey of 433 people who have attended workshops, scheduled site visits, or completed conservation projects with WCD or Watershed District assistance between 2010 and 2015. A total of 82 people responded (19% response rate). The questions in the survey were mostly the same as those used in our 2010 survey, however we did make a few changes and added demographic questions at the end. Some of the interesting findings from this survey include the following: 1. Survey respondents were older and richer than the general population in Washington County. (The age factor could be partially explained by survey bias.) 2. Of the people who attended our workshops: - 45% schedule a site visit - 35% receive a grant for a project - 55% install a project 3. In general, people who build conservation projects are motivated to protect water resources and improve their yards and local environment. Common barriers include time, funding, and communications during the grant process. 14. People like our programs, and especially our BMP staff. 5. The most common complaints are about staff availability and communications (ie. waiting to schedule a site visit or learn if a grant application was approved) 6. People want us to advertise, educate and promote our work more! NEW! Washington County Best Management Practice (BMP) database Last year, the Washington Conservation District, Washington County, and several watershed management organizations in the county collaborated to create a new web -based project database for urban, rural, and education projects. This new database also makes it easier to track whether people attending workshops eventually complete clean -water projects, as well as to visually demonstrate the reach of EMWREP educational activities over the years (see figure). A publicly accessible version of the map and database can be found at: hftp://www.mapfeeder.net/wcdbm The image above shows where people live who attended EMWREP workshops, 2007 -2013. EMWREP Calendar of Events March March 14 1 -6pm St. Ambrose Environmental Fair - 4125 Woodbury Dr, Woodbury Aaril April 10 8am -2pm Turfgrass Maintenance Workshop FREE - WCD, Oakdale To register email: April 13 6 -8pm Raingarden Design Charette - Bayport Library Info at April 14 6 -8pm Raingarden Workshop - Marine on St. Croix City Hall Info at ittp:// tinyurl .com /MarinpRainnarden2015 April 21 6 -8pm Green Grass and Smart Sprinkling - Woodbury Central Park April 24, 8am -8pm Tree, Rain Barrel & Compost Bin Sale - WashCo Fairgrounds April 25 8am -12pm Info at ivvvv.iiif vv Gu.uig April 25 9am -12pm Mahtomedi Earth Day Event - Mahtomedi District Education Center April 28 6 -8pm Healthy Yards Workshop - Hugo City Hall Register at April 29 8am -5pm St. Croix Summit - Water Street Inn in Stillwater croix- summit May May 5 -6 8am -5pm Stormwater Inspection and Maintenance - Cottage Grove Register at: - rttp: / /z.umn.edu /may2015s \Ai May 13 5:30- 6:30pm Raingarden Maintenance Workshop - Lake Elmo May 18 6- 7:30pm Raingarden Maintenance Workshop - Stillwater May 18 6- 7:30pm Make'N'Take Rain Barrel Workshop - WCD, Oakdale ,„� ' -. . j — ... <. m.... , d � 6 t �. w . < . w d — I t . d . . ";. May 19 6- 7:30pm Make'N'Take Rain Barrel Workshop - Env. Center, Woodbury 4