ACD Plays a Critical Role in Getting Golden Lake Removed from the Impaired Waters List

Photo Credit: City of Circle Pines

Golden Lake is the jewel in the crown of the City of Circle Pines. Over the decades, clear water gave way to murk and algae. A focused effort over the last several years by many local partners and residents leveraging state funds has turned the lake around; enough so that Golden Lake is being removed from the Impaired Waters List.

At 57 acres, Golden Lake is relatively small, particularly compared to the watershed that drains to it of over 6500 acres. With so much water flowing in from such a large area, Golden Lake is considered a 'flow through' lake, with the water ending up in Rice Creek. Golden Lake essentially acts like a bathtub with the faucet always turned on and a drain always open. Enough water comes in to replace all of the water three times every couple years. This is why efforts to clean up the water, started by installing projects upstream in the watershed.

Working with the City of Blaine, the Rice Creek Watershed District and $88,950 from the Clean Water Fund, Anoka Conservation District retrofitted a stormwater treatment pond in Blaine with an iron-enhanced sand filter bench installed along the perimeter. Iron holds on tight to phosphorus enabling this small project to reduce phosphorus by 11% of the goal to meet State water quality standards. Completed in 2015 at Centennial Green Park, water now filters through the iron-enhanced sand filter before entering the ditch and making its way to Golden Lake. The success of this project inspired a larger effort a bit downstream. 

Photo: Golden Lake

With a $467,970 Clean Water Fund grant, the City of Circle Pines, Rice Creek Watershed District, and Anoka Conservation District hired WSB to design and oversee installation of a pump-controlled iron-enhanced sand filter basin near an existing stormwater pond on Circle Pines-owned property adjacent to Golden Lake. Completed in 2019, water is pumped from an existing pond to two iron-enhanced sand filter beds, before it reaches an outlet to the lake.The project was designed to remove 50 pounds/year of phosphorus entering the pond from Anoka County Ditch 53-62, which carries stormwater runoff from about 6,425 acres.

"Without the Clean Water Fund, neither of these projects would have gone in the ground. Typically, the financial hurdles are often the hardest to get over, and the Clean Water Fund provides a fantastic opportunity to bridge that gap," said Mitch Haustein, Anoka Conservation District Stormwater and Shoreland Specialist.

These projects alone would not have been enough. Groups like the Friends of Golden Lake have helped to spread the word about lawn care to reduce fertilizer and chemical inputs into the lake, stabilizing eroding shorelines, installing buffer plantings, and allowing rooted weeds to grow to help suck up the phosphorus so algae doesn't. Over the past eight years, RCWD monitoring data show phosphorus levels are down 20% to 50% compared with the longtime average dating back to 1976. "The lake is as healthy as it's been in decades – thanks to the ongoing efforts by many" per the Friends of Golden Lake at www.facebook.com/friendsofgoldenlake/. Let's keep working together to  keep it that way!  For more information contact Chris Lord, District Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Conservation Starts at Home

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 fast and simple for members of the community to have an impact.

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.

• 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) 

These resources are available to the public free of charge. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 763-434- 2030 x 100 and provide the displays you'd like to check out and when you will need them. Up to three displays typically fit nicely on a table. Many of the displays have companion brochures. Upon request, we are happy to provide up to twenty brochures for each topic free of charge. 

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Creating Wildlife Habitat in your Backyard can be Simple!

Planting native plants and nectar-rich flowers, supplying food and water sources, and avoiding pesticides are some of the keystones for attracting wildlife to your garden. Different species of pollinator prefer different shapes of flowers. Some like flat clusters of tiny flowers, and others seek out trumpet-shaped blossoms. Native plants such as coneflower, New England aster, and butterfly weed offer a variety of flower shapes to attract a variety of wildlife. Planting indigenous flowers and grasses among native trees and shrubs creates a self-sustaining environment. Plus, native plants require less maintenance than non-native species because they are better suited to the soil and climate. 

Photo Credit: Bryan E. McCay

Keep an eye out for invasive plants that may try to sneak into your garden. These include purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed, crown vetch, and multiflora rose, all of which can spread rampantly. There are free apps you can download to help you identify plant species. A pond can provide refreshing drinks for wildlife and habitat for fish, frogs, and other water-loving creatures. Thoughtfully placed plants, including hardy water lilies and arrowhead in and around the water are key ingredients for a healthy ecosystem.

Bird baths are a simple way to attract wildlife, especially feathered friends who appreciate a place to safely drink and bathe.Birds prefer shallow basins no more than 2 inches deep with a rough surface for good gripping. For protection against lurking cats and other predators, place a bird bath a few feet from a tree or shrub so that the area immediately surrounding it is open yet close enough to sheltered perches for quick getaways. 

While adult butterflies fly from flower to flower sipping sweet nectar, their wriggly offspring are content to feast on a single host plant. Parental instinct guides each species to lay eggs on the plants their offspring favor. Favorite caterpillar cuisine includes parsley, dill, fennel, milkweed, willow, Queen Anne's lace, spicebush, and white clover. Pesticides can cause harm to the butterflies and bees you're trying to support. If you plant a diverse mix of plants, especially natives, pests are unlikely to do much damage to your garden so it's best to accept a little imperfection just let nature take its course.

Birds such as robins, brown thrashers, and cedar waxwings flock to landscapes that feature fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. Native species that fit into yards large and small include serviceberry, crabapple, and hawthorn. Don't try to do all this at once! Pick one project this summer and add it to your yard. You'll notice the change immediately. As time goes on; you can keep modifying and make changes as you go. Enjoy! Learn more from the source article or contact Becky Wozney, Wetland Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

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Monarch Monitoring with ACD!

ACD staff, volunteers and students are collecting data to record milkweed plants, flowering plants, Monarch caterpillars and Monarch butterflies in prairies throughout Anoka County. The data will be entered into a national database, which is utilized to understand how monarchs interact with the environment, and how habitat and monarch populations change over time. The data will also be used to guide management decisions at each prairie. ACD recently applied for BWSR pollinator grant funds, which would provide funding for future habitat enhancement activities with students in the Anoka-Ramsey Community College prairie and to broadcast milkweed and other wildflower seed after Anoka County Parks prescribed prairie burns. Sign up today to volunteer with ACD or for more information contact Carrie Taylor, Restoration Ecologist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Stabilizing Eroding Slopes

On lakeshores and riverbanks, fluctuating water levels, currents, or wave action can gradually eat away the soil along the water's edge and compromise the ground above. However, any slope – regardless of its proximity to a waterbody – can experience erosion from water runoff. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to mitigate these impacts. 

Photo: A steeply sloped lakeshore stabilized by robust native vegetation on the majority of the slope and protected from erosive wave action by fieldstone riprap along the base.

Vegetation is often essential to slope stabilization. Native trees, shrubs, wildflowers, and grasses provide ground cover, slow the velocity of water runoff, and produce a network of deep, interconnected roots, which help lock soil in place. Lawn debris, heavy shade, and invasive buckthorn are common drivers of suppressed plant growth. To manage these challenges, avoid dumping yard waste on sloped areas, prune trees and shrubs to increase sunlight, and remove buckthorn using these techniques. Then, bolster the native plant community with supplemental seeding and/or plantings. Be sure to select species well-suited to your property, and support them as they became established by removing weeds, watering when needed, and covering temporarily exposed soils with erosion control fabric. This seed selection tool, plant finder tool, and native plant encyclopedia can help you select plants well-suited to your site.  

Photo: Straw wattles used to manage erosion on a sandy slope in Anoka County. The area was later hydro-seeded and planted with native vegetation.

In some cases, additional stabilization elements are needed. Rock rip-rap, coir logs, and tree revetments are commonly used to protect the zone where moving water meets the land and restricts vegetation growth. Excessively steep slopes can be re-shaped to a more stable grade, and brush or straw wattles can be trenched into the slope to slow water runoff and trap soil. Taking early action to stabilize your slope is key to avoiding costlier solutions such as retaining walls or other heavily engineered approaches. 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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Help Keep Your Lakes Safe!

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

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Water Resource Monitoring with ACD

Visit the ACD webpage to learn more about monitoring efforts or contact Brian Clark, Natural Resource Technician, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  

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Monitor Monarch's and their Habitats with ACD!

Come participate with ACD's Monarch monitoring efforts! ACD staff will provide all the training and materials you need.

Learn to:
- Identify blooming prairie plants
- Find and observe Monarch butterfly eggs and larvae
- Record activities of adult Monarch butterflies

Event info:
Thursday June 20th, 4:00pm-7:00pm
Cedar Creek Conservation Area: 18510 Lake George Blvd, Oak Grove
Note: this event will be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

You can RSVP for this event by completing a quick google form. For more information contact Logan Olson, Restoration Technician, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Thanks for volunteering with ACD! 

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Germination Success!

In 2019, The Anoka Sand Plain (ASP) Rescue Program collected MN State Threatened Rotala ramosior (toothcup) seed from a site and the collected seed was taken to the MN Landscape Arboretum's seed bank for storage and preservation. The ASP Program is always on the search for suitable habitat and the Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve has habitat, active management and a willing landowner. Bison were introduced to part of the Reserve, creating open soil disturbance with their trails and wallows. 

In fall, 2023, the ASP Rescue team spread a small amount of seed along and the area was recently monitored this spring and countless Rotala ramosior – toothcup plants were identified throughout the wetland depression. Toothcup is an annual whose population fluctuates due to changes in water levels along shorelines and wetland depression habitats and requires disturbance to create bare soil for the seeds to have space to germinate. The ASP Rescue team will continue to monitor this area to determine the results of the seeding, which will help guide future reintroduction and management efforts. For more information contact Carrie Taylor, Restoration Ecologist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

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Barges Help ACD Reach Difficult Sites

ACD recently had several projects where the contractor used barges to stabilize shorelines that are otherwise be difficult to reach. It has allowed us to stabilize some of the highest priority shorelines and added efficiency to the work. Recent projects have been on Martin Lake and the Rum & Mississippi Rivers. 

At Martin Lake, larger homes on smaller lots often mean that there is no path for equipment to reach the lakeshore from the road. Steep slopes can also prohibit access. At the Mississippi River, the barges allowed materials and equipment for multiple sites to be staged at one location. This eliminated the need to restore damaged lawns and improved construction efficiency.

Small excavators work from the barge itself. The barge is moved up and down the shoreline. In this way the equipment is never driven in the water where it would disturb sediment and destroy aquatic vegetation. For more information contact Jamie Schurbon, Wetland Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Rum Riverbank Stabilization in Oak Grove

Plans, permits, and bids have come together to stabilize one of the highest priority eroding riverbanks along the Rum River in Anoka County. The project spans multiple properties and will stabilize some of the tallest and most severely eroding riverbanks on the Rum River in Anoka County.

A portion of this stretch was ranked in the top two of over eighty identified eroding banks during a 2017 erosion inventory. Through the stabilization of this stretch of bank, annual pollutant loading to the Rum River is estimated to be reduced by 473-tons of sediment, and 402-lbs of total phosphorus. Construction is planned to begin around September 1st, 2024, and should wrap up prior to winter. Photo: Surveying the tall eroding bank. 

Photo: Landscape shot around eroding bank looking downstream.

Funding sources include grant dollars from the Clean Water Fund and Outdoor Heritage Fund (both from the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment) as well as match dollars from the landowners, Anoka County, and the Upper Rum River WMO. 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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Rum Riverbank Stabilization Projects - How are Things Looking?

ACD staff recently boated the Rum River to review potential riverbank stabilization and in-stream habitat sites, which provided an opportunity to assess a few previously installed stabilization projects. Each site was stabilized with hard armoring at the bottom of the slope (where vegetation will not grow due to frequent water level fluctuation) and native vegetation on the upper banks. The sites have remained stable, and vegetation has established to provide riparian habitat value within the Rum River Corridor.

 For more information contact Mitch Haustein, Shoreline and Stormwater Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Buffer Law Continues Making Headway

Nearly a decade after Minnesota's buffer law was enacted in 2015, 99.8% of parcels adjacent to Minnesota waters are in compliance with the law. Buffers are also known as a riparian filter strip adjacent to a stream, river, lake, or wetland. These buffers filter out phosphorus, nitrogen, and sediment. Studies completed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency show that buffers are important for protecting and restoring water quality, natural stream functions, and aquatic habitat and life. Buffers are required along public waterways and ditches. Public waterways include lakes, rivers, and streams. This type of waterway requires a 50-foot average buffer. Buffers of 16.5 feet are required along public ditches. 

Photo: This map reflects buffer law compliance rates across Minnesota's 87 counties.

ACD was proud to announce that Anoka County was 100% compliance back in fall, 2020. This milestone was achieved through strong partnerships between Anoka County, ACD, local landowners, and BWSR. This achievement doesn't mean that the hard work is over but it does represent a great success and displays the impact that strong environmental policy can have across the state of Minnesota. The next phase, includes another ACD review of properties throughout Anoka County to identify non-compliant parcels. This review began in Spring, 2024 and is based on recently released aerial photos. Compliance status and progress is tracked using the Buffer Compliance and Tracking Tool (BuffCAT), a state developed GIS database and mapping system.

Transfers in property ownership and land management changes, will require ongoing efforts by ACD in order to maintain existing compliance and to bring other parcels into compliance. Many landowners with noncompliant parcels have plans in place to seed the sites, or to implement an alternative conservation practice that provides comparable water-quality benefits this spring. Visit the ACD website to learn more about Buffer law implementation or contact Kris Larson, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Four New Rain Gardens Coming Soon to a Fridley Neighborhood

Stormwater runoff from Fridley's Channel Rd. NE neighborhood currently flows to and through the storm sewer network directly to Rice Creek, untreated. This is a common occurrence in well-established neighborhoods built prior to stormwater treatment regulations. However, thanks to collaboration between the City of Fridley, Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD), ACD, and private landowners, this neighborhood with soon be retrofitted with four curb-cut rain gardens designed to reduce water volume and pollutants entering Rice Creek. 

Photo: Planting excerpt from design plans (compiled by ACD) for a upcoming rain garden installation.

These gardens have been strategically located throughout the neighborhood in order to capture as much runoff as possible. The benefits of infiltrating this stormwater will amount to an estimated reduction of 56,192 cubic feet of water, 3.57 lbs of phosphorus, and 677 lbs of total suspended solids to Rice Creek per year. Each garden will also be densely planted with native forbs, grasses, and shrubs to provide improved water infiltration and pockets of high-quality habitat in a highly developed landscape. 

Photo: A rain garden installed in 2022 as part of a previous multi-project effort in Fridley’s Rice Creek Terrace Neighborhood

Funding is provided by the RCWD's water quality cost share program and the City of Fridley. Landowners at each garden site have voluntarily enrolled in this opportunity and have agreed to maintain these gardens to ensure long-term functionality. 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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Lakeshore Buffer Plantings!

Photo: Homeowners installing a native plant shoreline buffer at Martin Lake, with assistance from ACD.

This June, ACD is planting 10 lakeshore buffers, part of a shoreline stabilization totaling nearly 800 feet of shoreline at three lakes. Native plants help hold in place the shoreline soils against erosion and provide near shore habitat. ACD and its project partners, such as the Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization, have goals of increasing native and stable shorelines. 

"Disappearing" natural shorelines is affecting lake health at many waterbodies in the region. ACD staff regularly assists homeowners who wish to do native shoreline buffers. With a little guidance, these projects can be do-it-yourself installation, or professionally installed. Cost share grants are available. Big or small, each is a step toward healthier, cleaner lakes and rivers. For more information contact, Watershed Projects Manager, Jamie Schurbon at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 763-434-2030 ext 210.  

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