Capitol Region Watershed District

Capitol Region Watershed District wason hand when St. Paul Mayor ChrisColeman and the City Council presentedthe city’s first round of Sustainable St.Paul awards to honor efforts to protectand restore the environment in St. Paul.The Arlington Pascal StormwaterImprovement Project won an award forcooperative conservation efforts to fundand construct stormwater facilities in asubwatershed near Como Lake.

Older municipalities in metropolitan areaslike the cities within the CRWD havevery few stormwater management facili-ties for water quality treatment. ComoLake and its neighborhood are significantly impacted by runoff from citystreets during rain events and snowmelt.Stormwater is the primary water sourcefor the lake and carries along with it any-thing in the street; sand, salt, yard wasteand pesticides are pollutants that enter thelake via storm drains in the watershed.Yard waste and fertilizer in particular arenutrient sources that encourage algae toproliferate.As part of the Arlington PascalStormwater Project, the cities of St. Paul,Roseville and Falcon Heights, along withRamsey County, partnered to addressthese community issues:

• flooding problems in residential areaswest of Como Lake, on LarpenteurAvenue and on Midway Parkway and • reduction of high levels of phosphorousand sediment entering Como Lake.

These goals can be accomplished througha six-year implementation plan thatincludes some innovative solutions:

• a flood reduction system;• eight rainwater gardens;• eight infiltration trenches;• an underground storm-water storage facility; and • a regional stormwaterpond in Como Park.

The Arlington Pascal proj-ect meets both floodingand phosphorus reductiongoals. It also shows thatwater quality improvementand volume reduction canbe achieved even in densely developedareas, and in conjunction with redevelop-ment and street reconstruction, whichcan save implementation costs.

The project also offers a unique opportu-nity to improve parkland while improv-ing water quality.While the ArlingtonHamline Underground Storage Facilityreduces flooding, the area where it wasconstructed was restored to its original

condition and continues tobe used for park purposes.The 2007 redesign ofComo Park Regional Pondwill result in improvedwater quality and reducedflooding at a popular parkthat receives more than 2million visitors annually.

This project also met part-nership and cost sharinggoals, and culminates fiveyears of planning and

implementation to achieve some goals ofthe CRWD’s Watershed Plan.“I want tothank all the partner cities and the staff atSt. Paul Public Works as well as Parks andRecreation; we could not have completedthe project without their help,” saidCRWD Administrator Mark Doneux.

CRWD Winner of Sustainable St. Paul Award

Our mission is to protect, manage and improve the water resources of the Capitol Region Watershed District.

2 Go Native!3 Blue Thumbs Up

3 CRWD Stewardship Grants4 CRWD Water FestivalINSIDEINSIDE

Older municipalities

in metropolitan

areas like the cities

within the CRWD

have very few

stormwater man-

agement facilities

to provide water

quality treatment.

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Council Member Jay Benanav present theaward to CRWD board and staff.

Capitol Region Watershed District Summer 2007

Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4 • St. Paul, MN 55108 • 651-644-8888 • www.capitolregionwd.org

The Minnesota Department of NaturalResources estimates that only traces – lessthan one percent – of native plant com-munities remain in a state that was onceabundant with prairie and oak savanna. Inthe urban landscape, we have the oppor-tunity to preserve a piece of natural his-tory when we garden with Minnesotanative plants. It’s important, however, tomake sure that plants making this claimare truly native to Minnesota.

What is native?

Since all plants are native to somewhere,definitions are somewhat arbitrary. Butwhat is usually meant by “native” in land-scape or restoration work are thosespecies discovered growing in a particulararea at the time of European settlement.Because some of the main benefits ofusing natives rely on their adaptation toconditions in a particular area, the seedsource should be considered. Plants of thesame species grow over a wide geograph-ical area. Sub-populations adapted to dif-ferences in growing conditions, and thuslocal “ecotypes” evolved.

For example, seeds from a little bluestem(Schizachyrium scoparium) prairie grassplant that grew in our area of Minnesotawill contain genetic material which pro-duces plants that are better adapted toour shorter growing seasons and colderwinters than seed from a little bluestemgrown in Kansas. Plants also supportother organisms that have co-evolved

with them, including pollinators, insects,birds, mammals and other wildlife thatuse the plants for food and shelter.Restoring native plants to areas wherethey are well-suited increases the chancesof planting success, helps preserve organ-isms that are dependent on them andhelps preserve their genetic diversity.1

Shop locally

When Minnesotans use a non-localsource of native plants, like Canada milkvetch (Astragulus canadensis) shipped hereor grown from seed from another state,they introduce the potential for dilutingor contaminating the local population.There may also be important genetic dif-ferences within native populations thatwe have not yet discovered.With thenews full of stories about the commercialand medical value of native plants, itseems more important than ever to pre-serve local populations; the next medicalbreakthrough could spring from a nativeplant.

The most commonly accepted definitionfor local ecotype is a seed source thatoriginated within 200 miles of a givenlocation.The best way to assure that thetype is still “true” is to get it from a sup-plier that raised it within that range.A listof local suppliers who honor this use oflocal ecotype can be found through theMinnesota Department of NaturalResources: www.dnr.state.mn.us/gar-dens/nativeplants/suppliers.html.

Partners in encouraging diversity

While many Blue Thumb Partners(www.bluethumb.org, see sidebar on page3) support and fund the use of non-native landscape plants, it is a collectivegoal that Blue Thumb projects usingnative plants require plant material propa-gated from sources no further than 200miles away.Without diverse species oflocal ecotypes, our vegetated areas will bemore homogenous and less diverse – likeso much of the landscape.

Established in 1998, the Capitol Region Watershed District covers 40 square milesand includes portions of the cities of Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, Maplewood,Roseville, and St. Paul. Located within Ramsey County, it has a population of245,000 people. The Mississippi River is the district's predominant water resourceand is the water resource to which the watershed district drains. Como Lake, CrosbyLake, Loeb Lake and McCarrons Lake are also located in the District.

Board of Managers: Robert P. Piram, President;Joe Collins; Marylyn Deneen; Mike Thienes;Seitu JonesStaff: Mark Doneux, Administrator; BobFossum, Water Resource Specialist; KatieHuser, Water Resource Technician; ForrestKelley, Permit Coordinator; John Mason,Water Resource Technician; Dawn Nelson,Administrative Assistant; Sarah Roley, WaterResource Technician; Elizabeth Storey,Education & Outreach Coordinator

2 Capitol Region Watershed District Summer 2007

Plants like this large-flowered bellwort are native to Minnesota, meaning its seedsource originated within 200 miles of where it is planted.

Consider the Source

Ecotypes: Plants of the same species

that have adapted to the different

environmental conditions of their location.

1 Carr, Carolyn of Ecological Strategies, LLC

Capitol Region Watershed District 1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4St. Paul, MN 55108 • 651-644-8888 • www.capitolregionwd.org

CRWD values efforts of individuals andorganizations that support our mission toimprove water resources. Residents of theDistrict are encouraged to apply for cost-share grant funding for projects or pro-grams with goals to improve water qualityby decreasing stormwater runoff; createand carry out water quality educationprograms or preserve native plant andwildlife communities affected by lakes,rivers and wetlands.

Eligibility

The following may apply for a CRWDStewardship Grant:• all CRWD residents;• nonprofit organizations or governmentagencies serving the District;• businesses and corporations locatedwithin the CRWD; or • public and private schools located withinthe CRWD.

Projects completed or in progress prior toapproval are not eligible.The project mustbe located within the CRWD (see map atwww.capitolregionwd.org).

Examples of eligible projects are:• educational materials developed todemonstrate water resource stewardship;• special events/meetings that educate thepublic about water resource stewardship;

• volunteer litter clean-up of natural areasconnected to water resources;• green roofs;• rain barrel installation;• pervious pavement or other stormwatermitigation projects; or• raingardens.

CRWD will reimburse approved applica-tions up to 50% of the approved projectcost not to exceed $2,000.Applicants pro-vide a 1:1 match of cash or in-kind serv-ices. Grant funding is offered on a reim-bursement basis - grantees receive reim-bursement after all requirements havebeen met and the project is complete.

CRWD accepts applications throughoutthe year. Contact CRWD for a completeapplication packet by calling 651-644-8888.

This winter while we were all longingfor green in the landscape, a group ofpeople who care about clean waterwere thinking blue.

Blue Thumb™ is a collaborative pro-gram originally developed by DawnPape of Rice Creek Watershed District.The Blue Thumb partners are a groupof professionals from local governmen-tal units (watershed and conservationdistricts, cities, counties); nonprofit andcommunity organizations; theUniversity of Minnesota Extension andnursery and landscape professionals.

Through native plant gardening, rain-gardens and shoreline stabilization, BlueThumb programs encourage citizens oflocal watersheds to reduce runoff fromtheir home landscape to improve waterquality. Since all the partners have thesame goal - clean water - Blue Thumbpartnership helps in creating a unifiedpublic education message.

Partners may use the Blue Thumb logoon print pieces, purchase promotionalmaterials co-developed by field profes-sionals, and more effectively collaboratewith agencies and organizations.Apartnership like Blue Thumb minimizesduplication and increases the strengthof our reach to watershed residents.Retailers benefit from the increasedexposure that results from associationwith Blue Thumb, and will also receivetechnical support and opportunities forprofessional development throughtrainings and workshops.

One element of the Blue Thumb pro-gram is an easy-to-use website forhomeowners seeking native plant gar-dening information. If you’re lookingfor help creating a native plant garden,a raingarden or a shoreline restoration,check out www.bluethumb.org.

Capitol RegionWatershed District’sStewardship GrantProgram

This parking lot raingarden receives roof and surface runoff.

A CRWD stewardship grant-fundedraingarden planted in shrubs.

A Blue Thumbs Up

Summer 2007 Capitol Region Watershed District 3

This event is sponsored by the CapitolRegion Watershed District which worksto protect and improve our waterresources. The District includes portions of St. Paul, Falcon Heights,Lauderdale, Maplewood and Roseville.Event co-sponsors include District 10Community Council, Black BearCrossings on the Lake, St. Paul Divisionof Parks and Recreation and theMinnesota Pollution Control Agency.

Event schedule

Performances take place on the stage near Schiffman Fountain, just south of the Lakeside Pavilion at Como Lake,1360 North Lexington Parkway.

10:00 a.m. -12 p.m.Litter Clean-Up ~ Contact Debbie tovolunteer at 651-647-6816

11:15 a.m.Greg Sletten of Coconut Groove

NoonTricia and the Toonies ~ musical puppets

1:15 p.m. Ceremonia Chalchitlique ~ Aztec dance

1:45 p.m. The Beguine Brothers Old Time Revue

2:45 p.m. Prize Drawing

Ongoing activities

Fishing ~ on the dock behind theLakeside Pavilion

Paddleboating and Canoeing ~ on the steps behind the Lakeside Pavilion

Lead fishing tackle exchange ~ trade in your lead tackle for lead-freereplacements

Exhibit Tent ~ experience water games,crafts, live animals, bugs, displays on gar-dening and environmental topics andmore in the large tent near SchiffmanFountain

Capitol Region Watershed District

1410 Energy Park Drive, Suite 4

St. Paul, MN 55108

651-644-8888

651-644-8894 fax

www.capitolregionwd.org

COMO LAKEwater festival

COMO LAKEwater festival

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Volunteer Litter Clean-up

Spruce up beautiful Como Lake! Trashbags provided; bring your own gloves.

Volunteers receive lunch courtesy ofBlack Bear Crossings on the Lake.

Sign up to help by contacting Debbie,651-647-6816 or meisterd@qwest.net.

Join us for fun onComo LakeSaturday, June 16