This October held the 2025 annual joint meeting of the Lake George Improvement District and Lake George Conservation Club. Members, as well as representatives from ACD, MNDNR, and Lake Restorations Inc., gathered to discuss lake water quality monitoring, aquatic vegetation management efforts, and cost-share opportunities for shoreline enhancement. A couple of highlights from this year include:

• Curly leaf pondweed, a prolific invasive plant, has been almost non-existent in vegetation surveys in recent years. A few plants were found in mid-summer 2025, so management of this plant, along with Eurasian watermilfoil, will continue.
• The native plant community remains robust, with some species of native pondweeds transitioning from non-existent in 2018 to prevalent in 2025, according to the MNDNR vegetation survey data.
• New lakeshore cost-share opportunities will be available next year. Outreach will begin this coming winter or spring. The goal of these projects is to mitigate shoreline erosion using bioengineering practices with rock only as needed.

Several recently installed lakeshore projects feature a new combination of materials to protect from erosion while restoring the native plant community. Our newest approach incorporates the use of rock, coconut fiber coir logs, and a diverse native plant buffer to stabilize shorelines experiencing moderate erosion. 

 Rock was placed to the elevation at which vegetation struggled to grow and erosion regularly occurred. This elevation is different for each lake and is based on water levels, wind fetch and wave models. The goal was to choose a rock type that would create a more natural look, while still providing protection and function, while preventing undercutting and collapsing of the sandy soils above.

16" coconut fiber coir logs were installed in the zone where water level fluctuations regularly occurred, but vegetation was capable of growing. This log will protect the new plants from wave and ice action while they become established. Eventually, the log will decompose. The coir log was anchored with a new technique using sisal rope and earth anchors for a stronger hold and improved aesthetics.

A buffer of native vegetation was planted behind the coir log. Their deep and interconnected roots will serve as the long-term stability for this shoreline. 

This approach also allows for installation with smaller machinery or by hand, facilitating application to shorelines with limited access or a need to work around existing natural shoreline features.

Anyone who has hired a contractor for a project knows you have a lot on the line. You need them to show up, bring the right tools, be knowledgeable, and navigate the inevitable unforeseen consequences. Tackling many construction projects every year, ACD uses a process that complies with the law, seeks out the best prices, and helps us find well-qualified contractors.

ACD often participates in an online competitive bidding process when planning larger construction projects. It's required by law for projects over $175,000. Somewhat recently, competitive bidding meant relying only on newspaper ads and receiving paper bids in sealed envelopes. Today, there are online tools that manage the process. Contractors can automatically receive notifications of nearby projects, download plan sets, and bid online. ACD can communicate with all interested contractors, including answering questions for the whole group. We can ensure everyone has the same information, keeping the playing field fair. 

This type of competitive bidding can help bring out the lowest prices for publicly funded projects. On the whole, bids are usually not as close to each other as you'd think. As an example, a recent riverbank stabilization project received 12 bids ranging from $130,393 to $251,021. Government entities are usually directed to select the lowest responsible bidder. ACD takes extra steps to review the qualifications of the low bidder. We may set minimum qualifications and ask contractors to describe their experience, equipment, and expertise. Performance on past projects for ACD and/or its partners is also considered. 

Roundleaf bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) is a large woody vine that was introduced in the 1860s. If left unchecked, infestations can overtake and choke out whole forests, with the vines sometimes growing as large as the trees that they grow on! 

The best way to tell the difference between the invasive and native American bittersweet is by looking at the fruits (see image above). Additionally, the native bittersweet rarely forms dense thickets like the non native species does. A good way to control large plants of roundleaf bittersweet is to cut the vine near the ground and apply an herbicide solution to the cut stump. Smaller vines can be brush cut or mowed (be sure to collect and dispose of the fruits!) in the winter, and the new leaves can be sprayed with herbicide in the spring. 

At the 2025 Columbus Fall Fest, the Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization partnered with the Anoka Conservation District to host a booth packed with conservation resources.

For more information, contact Brian Clark, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Rare Plant Rescue Planting: Help plant rare lance-leaved violets that were rescued from a development in Anoka County. Please RSVP to plant rescued trees at the Beach Conservation District on Wednesday, October 22nd, at 10 am.

If you have questions, contact Carrie Taylor, Restoration Ecologist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

Kings Island, in the city of Anoka, has a floodplain forest with a canopy mix of silver maple, ash, and elm. Unfortunately, signs of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) were discovered in 2021, and some trees started falling on the trail along the Mississippi River. ACD received funding from the Outdoor Heritage Fund in 2023 to conduct ecological management at Kings Island. A total of 426 Ash trees were removed in January 2024.

Ash trees infected by EAB will continue to die off, opening up the forest canopy throughout the island. Tree planting is planned for the fall of 2025 to promote diversity and forest habitat regeneration. Climate-resilient and transition tree species will be planted to enhance the ecosystem in Kings Island. Some of these tree species already exist and some were chosen because they are growing well at the Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change study at Crosby Farm along the Mississippi River.

Join ACD's efforts to diversify and steward King's Island floodplain forest. Sign up to plant trees at Kings Island on Saturday, October 25th, from 10 am to 12 pm. 

Coon Lake, Anoka County's largest lake, was chosen as a research site for invasive cattails by the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), associated with the University of Minnesota. Residents and natural resource professionals (including ACD staff) were among the ~50 people in attendance in August when their research was shared. MAISRC wants to know whether small-scale mechanical cattail removal can enhance fish habitat, the overall impacts that invasive cattails have on the environment, and the potential benefits of specific management approaches. They have research sites at nine lakes across the state, where they are comparing areas with invasive cattails present to those with cattails removed. Generally, they've found that native, aquatic vegetation becomes established quickly where cattails are removed. They also found healthy responses from fish and improved dissolved oxygen concentrations. 

ACD was contracted by the Isanti Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) to monitor water quality in 7 Lakes, located in the Oxford Township of Isanti County. These lakes are within the Lower St. Croix watershed and have been monitored by the Isanti SWCD since 2017. These lakes have diverse aquatic plant communities, and several rare plant and/or species of special concern have been identified. These natural environment lakes are located in areas of Isanti County that are poised for development in the coming years, making it a crucial time for outreach and education. Conservation agencies such as the Isanti SWCD and the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership recognize the importance of using policy and education to help preserve and protect the environment.

Check out this short video on protecting lakes in Oxford Township. The Isanti SWCD is one of the 16 partners of the Lower St. Croix Watershed Partnership, an initiative that looks to protect and restore our water resources for the next ten years. You can learn more about the Isanti SWCD and the LSC Watershed Partnership. For more information contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Do you have native milkweed plants on your property? If so, early fall is a perfect time to collect seeds. Seeds are mature and ready for collection once they have turned a darker brown. Milkweed pods will turn from green to brown, start to open up and reveal the brown seeds inside. Pods will continue to open and the seed will fly out and disperse. However, it's ideal to collect seeds before the pods fully open and the seed fluff/silk has developed. It is best to remove the fluff from the seed for storage. To separate the seed from the fluff, remove the entire stalk of seeds and fluff/silk from the seed pod, hold the end of the fluff/silk and gently push and pull the seeds off the fluff/silk. Watch this short video to see butterfly milkweed seed cleaning. Once the seed is "cleaned" (the fluff is removed), lay it out to dry completely, label the seed with the plant species name (common or butterfly milkweed), and write the date and location the seed was collected. Store dry seed in paper or mesh plastic bags. 

ACD collaborates with Anoka County Parks and cities within Anoka County to enhance local native habitats. If you have native milkweed seed you would like to donate, ACD staff will be happy to take it and spread the seed at appropriate locations.

Contact Carrie Taylor, Restoration Ecologist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. There will be a waterproof box located outside the ACD office for seed drop-off. Be sure to label the milkweed species. ACD office address: 1318 McKay Dr NE, Suite 300, Ham Lake, MN 55304. 

ACD and the Martin Lakers Association are working together this summer to reduce invasive carp populations in Martin Lake through targeted carp harvests. Our first successful harvest of the season took place in late July, with 58 carp removed. Box nets, designed and installed by Carp Solutions, were deployed at two strategic locations on the lake. The carp are gradually conditioned to feed at these box nets using cracked corn as bait. 

Each year, ACD staff revisit a variety of previously installed projects to ensure that they are holding up throughout their expected lifespan. For the project owners, this is an opportunity to reconnect with technical experts and ask questions. For project managers, this improves our understanding of which materials and approaches result in the greatest success over time. For the projects themselves, this helps address issues before they become unmanageable, ensuring the natural resource benefits provided continue for years to come. 

A fundamental aspect of managing any pest is correctly identifying it. Historically, identifying weeds has involved using some form of a taxonomic tool. Fortunately, technology has advanced significantly in assisting with plant identification; several free and paid mobile applications are now available to the public. PictureThis and iNaturalist apps both have free versions that rely on some form of community-supported identification. Major phone manufacturers are also increasing photo recognition abilities in their camera apps. Android uses Google Lens to search the internet for similar-appearing photos to help identify a plant or other object. Apple's IOS uses Visual Look Up to perform a function similar to Google's.

Each of these platforms has its advantages and disadvantages, and each should be used with a healthy dose of skepticism. Unfortunately, these apps are not very reliable at correctly identifying grasses, so they are somewhat limited to broadleaf plants. Remember that these apps are simply a tool to help you correctly identify a plant. They will likely improve in accuracy as cameras and computer processing improve over time. 

Read the full article in the latest edition of the "Home Lawn Care Newsletter" from the University of Minnesota Turgrass Science. Other topics include encouraging better rooting through improved watering practices, utilizing technology to identify weed species reliably, and learning how to manage your lawn for moles, as well as upcoming events. For more information, contact Becky Wozny, Wetland Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

ACD staff have been working hard this season to remove garlic mustard seed from a woodland restoration site in Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park. By removing these biennial plants in their second year of growth, we aim to drastically reduce the seed source for new garlic mustard plants. With this reduced seed source, we hope to find fewer new garlic mustard plants when we return next spring. For more information, contact Jordi Johnson, Restoration Technician, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

ACD has developed informative videos on a variety of topics, all of which can be accessed on ACD's website and YouTube Channel. The videos cover topics such as signs and causes of erosion, river-friendly lawn care, and various best management practices. The "Our Connection" video series is both informative and easy to follow, and has become a valuable educational tool for teaching students about the environment. For more information contact Kathy Berkness, Office Administrator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..