ACD, in collaboration with the City of Princeton, completed a 300-foot riverbank stabilization in the city's popular Riebe Park. The project offers benefits to water quality, habitat, and new recreational opportunities. This segment of the Rum River had a severely eroding shoreline because of the erosive forces generated by the convergence of the main stem and the West Branches. 

The project involved grading the slope, installing root wads, constructing small rock weirs, and planting native vegetation. The floodplain bench on the new shoreline offers a "pressure relief valve" for floodwaters while also making the riverbank more walkable. The new habitat features are designed to protect the bank while also creating areas in the river that attract game fish. Funding for this project is provided by the City of Princeton and the Outdoor Heritage Fund under the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment.

Before the project, the riverbank was severely eroding and offered no meaningful habitat or public access. Post-project features a stable riverbank, in-stream habitat, and walkable terrain. Note: Tree planting to reforest the riverbank had not yet occurred at the time of these photos. For more information, contact Jamie Schurbon, Watershed Project Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Sloneker family protected 58.5 acres of their land around Cedar Creek through the BWSR's Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) program. Under the RIM program, the land remains privately owned but is protected by a conservation easement. Land protection along creeks and rivers improves water quality, reduces flood risk, and creates essential wildlife habitat corridors. For more information contact Carrie Taylor, Restoration Ecologist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

The best time of year to prune most trees in Minnesota is winter. Wounds can heal while pests and diseases are at their winter standstill. It's also a good time to see the tree's form for attractive pruning. If you don't have trees (who couldn't use a few more?), ACD's annual tree sale is open. Trees are now being ordered and will be picked up in the spring. All are seedlings, available in bundles of 10 for $24-30 or bundles of 25 for $46-58. Prairie seed is also available. Please order early for the best selection; we intend to sell out of everything. Order online at www.AnokaSWCD.org. For more information contact Kathy Berkness, Office Administrator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Each year, the Anoka County Parks Department uses prescribed burns to manage ~200 acres of prairie and savanna habitats. Fire is a natural part of these ecosystems; it removes accumulated plant material, releases beneficial nutrients, fights the encroachment of woody plants, and helps control invasive species. Through these processes, fire boosts the native plant community and increases diversity. Prescribed burns are often paired with other management techniques such as mowing, applying selective herbicides, and supplemental seeding. 

Powerline corridors like this need to remain clear of woody vegetation, providing an opportunity for active prairie management in its place. This restoration also involved treating smooth brome (an aggressive invasive grass) before burning. Visit the U.S. Forest Service webpage to learn more about prescribed burns or contact Carrie Taylor, Restoration Ecologist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ACD staff and volunteers planted 120 new trees on Kings Island in Anoka, Minnesota. After more than 420 ash trees were removed due to Emerald Ash Borer infestation, this reforestation effort aims to restore a diverse, resilient forest. Species planted include hackberry, basswood, river birch, tulip poplar, sycamore, northern pecan, and more. 

Construction has concluded for nine lakeshore stabilization projects on the Sunrise Chain of Lakes: four on Martin Lake, three on Linwood Lake, and two on Coon Lake. Project locations were selected in 2024 based on the property's need for restoration and the anticipated water-quality benefits the project would deliver. Detailed designs were compiled, and three primary bioengineering approaches were applied. 

Funding for these projects was through a Clean Water Fund grant, the Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Aid, and landowner match. For more information contact Breanna Keith, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Dellwood River Park offers ample opportunities to walk in nature, fish from the shore, or enjoy the view just outside of the City of St. Francis. In 2023, ACD installed bendway weirs to deflect erosive flow off the riverbank. These rock weirs protect the trees along the shore, improve water quality, and provide excellent fishing opportunities. Over the coming years, ACD and the City of St. Francis will work together to further enhance habitat in the park by managing invasive species and restoring native vegetation.

~7 acres of open space currently dominated by invasive smooth brome and reed canary will be restored to native prairie and ~10 acres of woodland will be managed for buckthorn to include a native understory. The habitat enhancement will be funded with grant dollars from the Outdoor Heritage Fund of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, as well as matching dollars and continued maintenance by the City. Stay tuned for continued updates!

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

Rain gardens capture and clean stormwater runoff before it reaches local waterbodies. Finding the right place to put one, especially a curb-cut rain garden that collects water from the street, takes more than just finding an open spot in the yard.

Several factors influence whether a rain garden will work effectively: the size of the area draining to it, the property's use, available space, landscaping features, and yard slope. While these things are easy to see, some of the most important considerations are hidden underground. Utilities such as water, sewer, gas, and electric lines must have adequate soil cover, and rain gardens can't interfere with these requirements. Soil is another key factor. Sandy soil allows water to soak in easily, while silt and clay soils may require special construction or make a site unsuitable for infiltration. 

To explore where rain gardens can be most effective, the City of Fridley is partnering with ACD as part of a 2026 street reconstruction project. Properties in the project area with ideal conditions were identified, and those with interested landowners are now being evaluated for feasibility. Pairing rain garden installation with street reconstruction is a cost-effective way to manage stormwater in neighborhoods that currently lack treatment. With thoughtful planning above and below ground, curb-cut rain gardens can provide long-lasting benefits for both water quality and neighborhood beautification.

Financial assistance is available for landowners who wish to reforest their land. The Minnesota DNR's Field to Forest Program provides up to 75% reimbursement for tree planting expenses. Plus, a $500/acre incentive! The program requires planting a minimum of 3+ acres and is not intended for residential landscaping or planting in established forests. Contact your local DNR Forester by December 1, 2025, to apply. For more information about this program and others, please visit this link.

If that grant program isn't a fit but you'd still like to plant trees, ACD's annual tree is open. Trees are ordered now and picked up in the spring. All are seedlings, available in bundles of 10 for $24-$30 or bundles of 25 for under $46-$58. Prairie seed is also available. Please order early for the best selection; we intend to sell out of everything. Order online at www.AnokaSWCD.org. 

In 2025, ACD partnered with three Anoka County libraries (Northtown Library, Johnsville Library, and St. Francis Library) to add native pollinator plantings to their properties. These small plantings have converted 650 sq ft of turfgrass into pollinator-supporting habitats and have connected residents to green spaces at their local libraries. We're excited to see these plantings flourish next spring! 

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..