Funding for a Groundwater Specialist Remains a Top Priority

The 2026 budget request to Anoka County includes adding a Groundwater Specialist to ACD's staff. This is the third consecutive year that this need has emerged as a top priority. Anoka County has never had a professional dedicated solely to managing our groundwater. Given our situation, it's time to shift our priorities. What situation?  

  • 94% of us in Anoka County rely on groundwater for drinking and other needs
  • We have more private wells than any other county in MN (53,000)
  • We have more Superfunds sites than any other county in MN (9)
  • We sit on the Anoka Sandplain, making our drinking water highly vulnerable to contamination
  • Our shallow groundwater recharges aquifers relied on throughout the Metro Area. 

This combination of factors can come together in troubling ways.

  • Drinking water contamination in Andover neighborhoods near closed landfills.
  • 47 private wells in Blaine and Ham Lake went dry due to interference from municipal well pumping in the City of Blaine. Three Blaine wells had to be shut down.
  • "Forever chemicals" (PFAs) are showing up in groundwater across Minnesota, especially in Anoka County. Potential health ramifications are unknown.
  • Drought diminished shallow groundwater, resulting in record-low lake and river levels.
  • Multiple train derailments across the country exposed the vulnerability of drinking water to contamination by spills. Anoka County must be prepared to respond quickly to spills.

If only we had a Groundwater Specialist at ACD, we could:

  • Develop a groundwater management plan and secure state approval,
  • Secure $150K-$350K/year in state funds available to those with approved groundwater plans,
  • Use advanced technology for high-resolution groundwater modeling,
  • Analyze neglected datasets for hotspots and trends in groundwater degradation,
  • Engage MPCA, MNDNR, and MDH to enhance the service Anoka County constituents receive,
  • Coordinate regional planning, wellhead protection, and contamination response,
  • Implement sentinel well monitoring,
  • Manage cost-share programs for projects like septic upgrades, well sealing, and agricultural irrigation technology upgrades,
  • Inform civic leaders, public employees and the public at large on groundwater, and
  • Serve as the trusted expert on groundwater issues.

If groundwater is a mystery to you, please watch the short videos linked below, which were made locally and are often referenced nationally. 

Groundwater - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxENTkMmyEE

Groundwater Contamination - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRSHJpe8pq8&t=12s 

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How You Can Help the Bees, Butterflies and Birds

When confronted with something eating your prized tomato plant, sometimes our first instinct is to pick up the bottle of pest spray. Oftentimes, we don't even realize that the plants we've purchased contain neonicotinoids, which are systemic (within) the plants' leaves, stems, flowers, nectar, and fruit. These 'neonics' are highly effective in killing pests, but they lack discrimination, and mounting evidence suggests they are contributing to the decline in pollinator numbers. An alternative is called IPM or Integrated Pest Management. The concept is to address pest infestations as they occur and manage pest damage on an as-needed basis, rather than chemically on a predetermined schedule.  

Cultural practices may include:

  • Is it a pest? Many of our most beautiful butterflies will use our garden or yard as a source of food, as well as caterpillars! If you can't identify the insect snacking on your plant, try contacting the Anoka County Extension Service for help with identification or go online. There are free apps that can help identify many insects, including iNaturalist, which can also help identify plants
  • Regular compost additions to maintain a healthy population of soil organisms
  • Crop rotation to avoid inadvertently helping pests thrive via monoculture
  • Companion planting to attract beneficial insects while reducing the attraction of pests
  • Using physical barriers like fine mesh netting and row covers to prevent pests from reaching crops
  • Hand removing larger pests from plants when practical, Japanese beetles are a good example. Late afternoon is a good time to find these bugs and dispose of them in soapy water.
  • Maintaining garden hygiene by removing diseased and end-of-season vegetation from the garden and disposing of it properly.

Biological and habitat controls include:

  • Importing predators and parasitoids that prey on the pests of concern. Note that specific pests demand specific predators and predators need a food source to stay in the garden area. Generally, if you have managed your garden then the 'good' insects will naturally find their way to your garden and assist with pest control.
  • Maintaining a chemical-free habitat that is welcoming to beneficials and pollinators
  • Using resistant plant varieties means researching and selecting the best available hybrids that are resistant to likely pest challenges.

When nothing else works and damage levels warrant continued action, research the organic and manufactured chemical options for the specific pest in question. Insecticidal soaps are a good option for many sucking and chewing pests. Neem oil is similarly safe on food with no dangerous residues while killing or reducing pests, powdery mildew, and other fungal infestations. If all else fails and traditional pesticides are used, follow label directions carefully, use them minimally, and avoid spraying open flowers and applying them during the day when pollinator activity is highest.

Birds (such as this ruby-throated hummingbird seeking nectar from these flowers), reptiles, and mammals can also transport pollen. (Photo by Sparky Stensaas)

The Harder Path is the Right Path

As is often the case, the more convenient approach — using neonicotinoids and other chemicals on a widespread basis in anticipation of pest problems — is seductive but ultimately harmful in the long term. Damage to pollinators, faster evolution of resistant pests and replacement of natural processes with chemicals are all costs that eventually have to be faced. The IPM approach requires more work and acceptance of a certain amount of pest damage. We must reduce and manage the use of neonicotinoids and other agricultural chemicals, as their long-term impact will be far more harmful than beneficial. Do it for the bees. Do it for the butterflies. Do it for the birds. Do it for you.

An excellent resource for more information is the University of Michigan's website: https://ncipmhort.cfans.umn.edu/ipm-bmp-cultural-control/vegetable-garden-best-management-practices-pollinators.

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Smart Irrigation Rebates Available in Anoka County

Spring is the perfect time to upgrade your lawn irrigation system. Smart irrigation tools—such as Wi-Fi-enabled controllers, soil moisture sensors, and rain sensors—help your system adjust automatically based on weather and soil conditions. These upgrades take the guesswork out of watering and prevent overwatering. 

Thanks to the Metropolitan Council's Water Efficiency Grant Program, funded by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, several Anoka County cities are offering rebates for smart irrigation controllers that reduce water waste and lower your water bill. Click the links below or check with your city to learn more about eligibility and how to apply.

- Smart irrigation controller rebates: Centerville, Coon Rapids, Fridley, Lino Lakes, Ramsey
- Irrigation audits to assess water efficiency: Fridley

Smart irrigation is a simple, effective step toward more resilient water resources—right here in Anoka County. Visit the University of Minnesota Extension's Lawn Care website for additional lawn management resources. For more information contact Mitch Haustein, Stormwater and Shoreland Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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St. Francis High School Biomonitoring Needs a Sponsor!

Photo: St. Francis High School students catching critters in the Rum River. 

ACD is seeking a group, company, or individual to provide $1,000 per year in support for the St. Francis High School biomonitoring program. Our past sponsor has had to withdraw due to financial constraints. Each year, we take high school biology classes to the Rum River to catch and count macroinvertebrates (bugs, crustaceans, etc.) that live there. Because some of these critters require high-quality conditions, we can use them to calculate metrics of river health. It's hands-on education led by professionals, with implications beyond the classroom. This program has been going since 2001. 1,950 students (average 81/yr) have donned waders, grabbed a net, and learned about the Rum River.

Financial assistance is used to help cover the costs of waders, nets, and other necessary equipment. It also ensures that our natural resource professionals can provide instruction and help students discover what their data means. Any group willing to provide financial assistance can please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Water resource monitoring is underway in 2025!

ACD staff is working hard to install monitoring equipment this spring so that it can begin to capture water quality and quantity data from Anoka County’s lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and groundwater resources. 
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Tick, Tick, Boom

An early thaw and record-breaking warmth have turned the typical spring emergence of ticks into an explosion of them. Anoka County is a high-risk area for tick born disease according to the MN Dept. of Health. The two primary types of ticks Minnesotans are likely to pick up afield are American dog (wood) ticks and Blacklegged (deer) ticks. While wood ticks can transmit disease to humans, it is rare. Blacklegged ticks (or deer ticks) however, carry a bevy of diseases transmittable to humans. Some of these diseases can cause lifelong illness and suffering. Luckily, there are some easy strategies to implement while outdoors to reduce your chances of being bitten and infected: 

Photo: MN Dept. of Health – from left to right: blacklegged (deer) tick larva, nymph, adult male, and adult female, then wood tick adult female and adult male.

1. Treat clothing with Permethrin. Unlike typical "bug spray", permethrin is used to treat clothing before going outdoors. It should not be applied to the skin. Permethrin is the most effective deterrent against ticks, and it also keeps mosquitoes and flies away.

2. Wear long pants, sleeves, and boots. Tuck your pants into your socks and shirts into your pants to reduce openings to your skin. Light colored clothing makes ticks easier to see.

3. Try to stick to mowed areas or trails if possible.
4. After being in the field, immediately check all clothing and skin. Learn about tick life cycles and study photos of them to be well-prepared for identification. The MN Dept. of Health has a practical tick guide: https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/tickborne/ticks.html
5. If you find an attached tick or suspect you've been bitten, follow CDC guidelines: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/pdfs/FS_TickBite-508.pdf

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.
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Another Successful Tree Sale!

ACD wraps up another successful annual tree sale! Over 26,000 trees were purchased as bare-root seedlings in bundles of ten or twenty-five. We offered a variety of species including black cherry, mixed oak, maple, lilac, pine trees, and a variety of native prairie seed mixes. We had perfect weather on pick-up day and our staff enjoyed getting the chance to meet and engage with the 466 tree sale customers. Thank you to everyone who purchased trees and helped support local conservation efforts! Check out a recap of our 2025 Tree Sale below! 

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Two Animated Videos Added to the “Our Connection” Series

Our Watershed and Stormwater Connection

This video explains complex concepts about watersheds and stormwater in simple terms using engaging animation. It benefits all ages, from an elementary classroom to a city council chamber. Learn what watersheds are, why they are important, and some challenges watershed managers face. This ties into stormwater management and what public officials are doing to prevent flooding and improve water quality, as well as what we all can do to become part of the solution. https://youtu.be/pqdPe3Lvuao


Our Stormwater Pond Connection

Stormwater ponds are a common feature in many neighborhoods, and for many landowners, they are part of their backyard. This video uses simple terms and engaging animation to explain how stormwater ponds help keep our lakes and rivers clean. It also sets expectations for what is normal for your neighborhood stormwater pond, and perhaps more importantly, what not to expect. The video closes with practical advice on what to do to enhance stormwater ponds.   https://youtu.be/R80kXDOmyq0 

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Emergent Vegetation Plays an Important Role in Lake Health

Emergent aquatic plants such as cattails, bulrushes, and sedges grow within the shallow margins, or "littoral zone", of most lakes in Minnesota. They improve water clarity as their roots stabilize the lakebed sediments and take in nutrients. Their stems and leaves provide habitat for fish, invertebrates, and amphibians below the water, refuge for waterfowl and other wildlife above the water, and protection for shorelines against the force of wave action. Emergent plants often grow alongside other aquatic vegetation, such as floating-leaf and submerged plants, creating a diverse habitat essential to lake health.

Any Destruction of Emergent Vegetation Requires a Permit in Minnesota

Lakeshore owners often wish to remove emergent vegetation to improve their access to open water and/or increase usable recreational space. Given its importance in improving water quality, providing habitat, and protecting shorelines from erosion, any  removal of aquatic emergent vegetation requires a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. This process connects landowners with professionals to ensure that the extent of vegetation removal (and methods used to achieve it) minimizes impacts to the lake and all who use it. Learn more about aquatic plant regulations HERE

Purple loosestrife is another common invader of shallow water.

Non-native emergent species such as narrow-leaf and hybrid cattails often grow in dense monocultures capable of outcompeting native species. Habitat quality and recreational usability are reduced as these invasions spread across large expanses of shallow water, but management efforts to remove them are often challenging and costly. When occurring in small clusters, these plants can still provide water quality benefits along disturbed shorelines where native emergent plants are absent. In either circumstance, removing a non-native or invasive emergent species requires a permit. 

Aquatic vegetation is a natural and essential part of lake and wetland environments. The abundance and types of plants present are primarily driven by water depth and clarity. Many lakes in the north metropolitan area are shallow (less than 15 ft. deep) or are more functionally open-water wetlands. These lakes usually contain abundant vegetation throughout when paired with good water quality, allowing sunlight to reach the bottom. The alternative is poor water quality from disturbances such as excessive nutrient inputs, reducing aquatic vegetation and the fish and wildlife that depend on it. Learn more about shallow lake vegetation from this StoryMap produced by the Rice Creek Watershed District: Aquatic Plants: Guardians of our Shallow Lakes.

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.

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ACD Making Outreach & Education Accessible!

ACD makes it easy to spread the word about conservation by developing a series of "Conservation Starts at Home" tabletop displays and brochures. Whether you're hosting a table at an event or distributing information in another way, like at a public library, church, or school, ACD's educational materials make it easy for community members to have an impact. These resources are available to the public free of charge. 

Each year community members and agency partners use these materials at local events and distribute hundreds of brochures to the public across a wide variety of topics including :

• Backyard Habitat* - Attracting Wildlife to Your Property
• Ecosystem Health - Improving Landscapes by Increasing Diversity
• Groundwater* - Protecting Drinking Water for Generations to Come
• Invasive Species - Combating a Threat to Native Ecosystems
• Lakeshore Restorations* - Bringing Water Quality & Wildlife to Your Shore
• Native Plants* - Restoring Habitat in Anoka County
• Natural Resource Threats - Threats to Our Natural Resources
• Open Space Protection - Establishing an Enduring Legacy
• Pollinators* - Enabling Our Farms, Gardens and Natural Spaces to Thrive.
• Rain Gardens* - Treating Runoff at the Source
• Riverbank Stabilization* - Understanding Flow & Managing Erosion
• Soil Health - Unlock the Secrets in the Soil
• Stormwater Management* - Improving Water Quality and Reducing Runoff
• Water-smart* - Conserving Water at Home
• Wetlands* - Benefiting Wildlife and People

(*Display has companion brochure)

Up to three displays typically fit nicely on a table. Many of the displays have companion brochures. We are happy to provide up to twenty brochures for each topic free of charge, if you'd like. For more information contact Kathy Berkness, Office Administrator, at Kathy.Berkness@AnokaSWCD or 763-434-2030x100.

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Grants Available for Soil Health and Conservation Plantings

Funding is intended to incentivize the adoption of new practices. Will not pay for past projects or continuing current practices. Practices that we can currently fund include:
For areas that are not currently row crops. 10-year commitment unless otherwise noted.

  • Conservation cover. This involves planting long-term native plant cover – essentially, a prairie restoration. Pollinator planting falls in this category. Rates are $350 per acre for native species and $500 per acre for pollinator species.
  • Forage and biomass planting. $150/ac
  • Prescribed grazing. $40/ac/yr, 3-year commitment.
For row crop fields. 3-year commitment.
  • Cover crops $50-$60/ac/yr
  • Residue and tillage management. $20/ac/yr
  • Conservation tillage. $10/ac/yr
  • Conservation crop rotation. $30/ac/yr

Contact Jamie Schurbon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Well Sealing Grants Now Available!

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

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Apply to ACD's Lawn to Legumes Grant!

Here are ways you can help pollinators and birds in your yard:

  • Plant Native Plants
  • Don't Buy Plants Treated with Neonicotinoids
  • Avoid Pesticides
  • Provide Water or a Birdbath
  • Leave Bare Soil and Old Stems for Bee Nests

Apply to ACD's Lawns to Legumes Pollinator Pathway Native Plant Grant:
Eligible project practices include:

  • Native pocket plantings
  • Beneficial flowering tree and shrub plantings
  • Pollinator-friendly lawns
  • Pollinator meadows

Applications can be submitted via Google Forms or paper applications are available upon request. Questions can be directed to Jordi Johnson: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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ACD Welcomes Stephanie Finch to the Team!

Stephanie Finch was hired as ACD's Seasonal Technician. Stephanie holds a B.S. degree in Earth Sciences from the University of Minnesota with a specialization in groundwater and geomorphology. She brings experiences from the Aitkin SWCD, the Minnesota GreenCorps program, and a seasonal position with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, collecting water quality samples across the state. She is excited to work in Anoka County's diverse range of landscapes and hopes to learn more about the county over the next few months! 

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ACD Welcomes Balin Magee to the Team!

Balin (Bayl'n) Magee accepted a position as a Restoration Technician. Balin has a B.S. in Forest Management and a B.A. in Spanish. He is a certified arborist and has received training in firefighting, chainsaw operation, and pesticide application. Balin is adept at plant identification at all stages of development, from seed to senescence. Balin started down the forestry track but got the restoration bug along the way and has pivoted in recent years. Reach out to Balin at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

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