Mussels, often referred to as clams, can be found in many lakes and rivers in Minnesota. Of the 51 freshwater mussel species that have historically lived in Minnesota, 28 are now gone, endangered, threatened, or of special concern. None of them are legal to catch or relocate. If a rare mussel has been identified in an area of a lake or river where a project is proposed, the permit process grinds to a halt. At the same time, experts with specialized certifications are called in, equipped with scuba gear, to carefully locate and relocate mussels from the construction zone. Few people have the necessary expertise and it can take a long time to get one to a job site. The not-so-rare mussels are left to fend for themselves.

All of this intersects with the Anoka Conservation District's (ACD) services, as we often help property owners on lakes and rivers address excessive erosion. Left unchecked, bank erosion can impair water quality, smother wildlife, and damage property and infrastructure. We've been fortunate to avoid all identified rare mussel populations and the permitting challenges that come with them. We started thinking about what would happen if our luck runs out and asked ourselves, "What if we could come up with a way to safely relocate all mussels from all construction zones without hiring Scuba Steve?" We may have come up with a solution that contractors could implement with readily available equipment at a reasonable cost, but first, there are some things you should know about mussels.

Mussels are interesting creatures. When they're born, they must immediately latch onto the gills of a fish, where they live rent-free until they are large enough to drop off and sink into the sand. Each mussel species can only pair up with a specific fish species. Some mussels live over 100 years and most of that time is spent in the top 4 inches of sand and gravel in lakes and rivers. Most mussels prefer to hide in river or lake bottoms with only their mouths sticking out of the sand. Mussels eat by siphoning water and filter out microscopic organisms and plant material that are floating by. They are like HEPA filters, purifying our water bodies. While mussels can move several feet a day to escape dropping water levels, they often spend their entire lives within an area smaller than a kitchen table. They are fairly helpless, except that some local species have such hard and sharp shells that they earned the name heel-splitter, yikes!

We explored numerous ideas before settling on one that we believe has promise. Those left on the cutting room floor included:

• doing nothing because then all of the mussels would die;
• excavating out the soil in the construction zone because the mussels would likely be crushed and die;
• using a rake or sieve because only large mussels could be extracted and the rest would be left to die; and
• hydro-excavation using an impeller because it's difficult to control and needs an electrical power supply, which near water would set up the operator potentially to die.

All of those options simply involved too much dying. So, we landed on using hydro-excavation, using a high-pressure water pump to blow the top 4" of sand and gravel out into the water and out of the construction zone. 

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. 

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 

Where the Money Goes

ACD finances vary annually due to the ebb and flow of competitive grants. 2024 included several large project installations, funded primarily with state grants. Many state grants are from sales tax dedicated to natural resource activities. ACD is committed to accessing these funds to benefit Anoka County taxpayers in proportion to the sales tax paid in the county. ACD strives to keep overhead costs down while expanding services. 

Making Sense of the Dollars
Although governed by an elected board, conservation districts do not have taxing authority and must secure funds from many sources. State funds increased in 2024 due to several large project installations. Product sales also exceeded $1M for the first time in 2024. County funds are critical for general operations because many grants do not cover overhead expenses.

Making Dollars of the Cents
ACD collaborates with cities, watershed management entities, state agencies, county departments, non-profits, and landowners on projects of mutual interest. On average, for every locally derived dollar, ACD leverages over four dollars from outside the county.

Each year, Anoka Conservation District (ACD) works with dozens of partners to install conservation projects and implement programs that improve water quality, hydrology and habitat across our shared natural resources. ACD employees nominate partners for consideration by ACD's elected Board of Supervisors to be honored as Anoka County's Outstanding Conservationist.

This year, we are excited to announce that the City of Circle Pines has been named the 2024 Anoka County Outstanding Conservationist. While this honor typically goes to a candidate that collaborated with ACD on a project in any given year, in this case, the award highlights a milestone reached in 2024 for Golden Lake due to the City of Circle Pines' long-standing partnerships with ACD and others. Golden Lake is the jewel in the crown of the City of Circle Pines' natural resources and a focal point for recreation. Efforts to improve water quality in Golden Lake culminated in 2024 with water quality levels that warrant removal of Golden Lake from the MN Pollution Control Agency's Impaired Waters List. For context, only eight other lakes were removed from the list in 2024, and the list includes 1,765 lakes. 

At the December 10, 2024 City of Circle Pines Council meeting, ACD presented the city with an award featuring a small bronze statue of a green heron for the City's accomplishments. While this milestone achievement is exciting and worth taking a moment to revel in, it's as City of Circle Pines Mayor Dave Bartholomay acknowledged, we don't get to say "well, we're done, let's move onto something else." We must continue to implement projects to maintain the ground we've gained, but we can do so moving forward at a slower pace with less annual investment.