District news

District offers up to $20,000 cost-sharing grants; deadline to apply is 4/1/2012

One-on-one cost-sharing money is available for projects, by individuals, neighborhoods, or organizations, that benefit District natural resources. Click here for more information and application form. Deadline is April 1.

Western Minnesota's Renville County poses challenge to Minnesota River

A couple of hours west of the Twin Cities, on US 212, Renville County is one of the state's most intensive agriculture areas. It's also intensively farmed, or "agged," as conservationist Tom Kalahar attests. Read here about the results — which are not necessarily good medicine for the Minnesota River.

Don McCready dies

Donald J. McCready, Dakota County board manager, died 15 December 2010. He will be sorely missed.

District helps Metro Blooms conduct first corporate raingarden workshop

In spring 2010 , Eaton Corp., of Eden Prairie, became the first corporation to host a Metro Blooms raingarden workshop. Read all about it here!

DNR purchases Seminary Fen

After year-long negotations with landowners, the state DNR bought a good chunk of the rare calcareous Seminary Fen, near Chaska. MnDOT's recommendation to build a river crossing west of the spot also seems a bright spot in preserving the fen.

Raingardens bring freshets of joy

Building a raingarden may be a way for you to increase your property's financial and esthetic value; it also does the environment a great deal of good. (Plus, you can probably qualify for financial aid if you build one.)

Engineer Samstad is winding down career and going strong

Scott County Manager Larry Samstad — formerly consulting engineer to the District — is winding down a long and active career. His memories and accomplishments are rehearsed in this article about the remarkable man.

Fishing shows Minnesota River is recovering

Just how much has the river recovered in the past 30 years? Quite a way, according to experts and amateurs alike, including those who regularly fish the river (one of the best kept secrets in the region). And yet we still have a way to go.