You may have seen that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) released the 2026 draft impaired waters list, which identifies lakes, rivers, streams, and wetlands across the state that don’t currently meet water quality standards. Let’s dig in.

When I step into my garden, time slows down. The green surrounding me, the birdsong, and an afternoon breeze — all of it recalibrates my nervous system in ways I never anticipated when I first planted seeds here. I thought growing my own food was the point. And it is, partly. But the peace I found in the garden was something I hadn't known I was looking for. Now I find myself wondering what my life might have looked like if I'd had access to these resources sooner.

Trust for Public Land recently announced that a 103-acre island at the center of Circle Lake, near Faribault, has been permanently protected. It’s now part of the existing Circle Lake WMA. And it more than doubles the area’s size. The catch? This new piece of public land is only reachable by boat. But for paddlers (and for the birds), that’s not a drawback. That’s the dream.

The news broke on September 19, 2025: a survey confirmed that zebra mussels had officially appeared in the east end of the lake. And, just one month later, they were found in several new locations, proving they are spreading rapidly.

Interested in using more native plants in your garden, but not sure where to start? Residents of The Crossing condominium complex in Northfield found themselves in a similar situation about ten years ago.

Across the Cannon River watershed, people and organizations are coming together to care for the land in ways that are both practical and deeply rooted in history. A recent restoration event at Sharing Our Roots Farm in Northfield showed what that can look like in practice.

For years, those of us in conservation have tried to change what happens on the land. Because what happens on the land shows up in the water. But what if we’ve been approaching this the wrong way?

Fish passage is a simple idea. Fish need to move up and down a river to survive. Many species travel upstream to lay eggs in specific habitats with the right water depth, temperature, and gravel. When a dam blocks that path, fish cannot reach those spawning areas. Over time, populations shrink, diversity declines, and the river ecosystem weakens.

This research project set out to explore cropping systems that intentionally combine cover crops, livestock, and modified corn row spacing to support both conservation outcomes and farm profitability.

Faribault historian and filmmaker Sam Temple was commissioned by Clean River Partners to create a water-themed film in a language other than English. What emerged was “Las Aguas Vivas de Faribault” (The Living Waters of Faribault), a film that shed light on a hopeful moment in time, in a place not so far away.

For several years, we have partnered with the Forever Green Initiative (FGI) at the University of Minnesota and farmers Matt and Seth Tentis of White Barn Acres to explore whether Kernza® could function as a dual-use commodity crop on a working farm. This collaboration brought research out of test plots and into real-world conditions, where decisions must balance conservation goals, livestock needs, and farm economics.

As communities in the watershed face extreme weather, like heavier rainfall and flooding, many are looking for ways to enhance local water quality. One effective approach is to plant native plants.