Clean Water Blog

Hi, I’m Marney – I work with the City of Sauk Rapids, a member of the Central Minnesota Water Education Alliance (CMWEA). Here’s a personal story that has given me more insight into our water systems. No more than one week after buying a purple pair of earrings, I dropped one of them down the bathroom sink. Arghhhhhhhh, I was stunned and then frustrated with my clumsiness. I decided I’d go in after it. I cleared out the cupboard under the sink, put a pan down underneath, and loosened the pipe. After carefully letting all the water fall into the pan, I tipped the piece of pipe and out fell my earring… and a whole lot of gunk! Gross!!! I knew it’d be a good idea to clean out as much of this pipe as I could to avoid future clogs. It was disgusting. I guess this was one of those “out of sight, out of mind” systems in my world. I hadn’t thought much before about what happens down the drain. Somehow, ‘til that point in life, I had no familiarity with drain pipe problems. Now I know and am much more conscientious from the experience. If only replacing the pipe and tightening was as easy a lesson.

Thursday, June 22, 2009, 9:00 AM- 2:30 PM-MNDOT District 3 Office, St. Cloud

This class will provide information on the design and planning of bicycle and pedestrian networks and facilities, including designing and maintaining pedestrian facilities to meet ADA requirements. For more information go to: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/bike/toolbox.html

This is a FREE event and space is limited to register early!

Friday, June 19, 2009. 7:30-9:00 AM-Great River Regional Library, St. Cloud

The Mississippi River National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) with the generous support of the Mississippi River Fund and the McKnight Foundation bring you:
“Connections between agriculture and water quality.”
Warren Formo. Executive Director, MN Agricultural Water Resources Coalition.  Mr. Formo will discuss the role agriculture plays in water quality, and the role water quality- and other regulations play in agricultural production and management.

LOCATION: Great River Regional Library, St. Cloud Branch, Bremer Room. 1300 West St. Germain Street, St. Cloud, 56301. Free parking available in the library’s front parking lot.

This is a FREE event, light breakfast served. Please RSVP Lark Weller at lark_weller@nps.gov or 651-290-3030×304

Thursday, June 18, 2009, 7:00-9:00 PM-Earl Brown Heritage Center, Minneapolis

Join Community Growth Options (CGO) for a kick-off event featuring Randall Arendt, the country’s most sought-after speaker on the topic of creative development design. Mr. Arendt will share innovative ideas for commercial development and design. This is a free event.

Location: Earle Brown Heritage Center (http://www.earlebrown.com) in Minneapolis. Refreshments will be served after the presentation.

Please RSVP to cgo@1000fom.org.

Friday & Saturday, June 12 & 13, 5:00 PM-5:00 PM-Crosby Farms Regional Park, St. Paul

Part contest, part festival, part scientific survey - people of all ages
are invited to join real scientists in a race against time with the goal of
counting as many species of plants and animals as possible in a 24-hour period. This year’s blitz will occur in the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.

As if that wasn’t fun enough . . .

Special Event: June 13, 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Birding Cruise on the
Padelford. Departing from the Padelford Dock, Harriet Island, St. Paul.

Register by calling the Padelford Boat Company at (651) 227- 1100 or online at http://riverrides.com

A complete list of activities is available at www.bellmuseum.org/bioblitz/.

Storm Drain Marking Kits are available for use in the City of St. Cloud by sending an email to stormwater@ci.stcloud.mn.us or calling 320-255-7226.

Stenciling storm drains with the message “No Dumping, Drains to River” is a great way to help spread the word that water entering storm drains does not get treated, but is most often discharged to the nearest waterway.

Storm drain stenciling is a great activity for groups, clubs or individuals who want to improve water quality. Call or email today to check out your kits!