South Washington Watershed District Regular Meeting Wednesday, August 12, 2026 6:00 p.m. City of Woodbury Public Works Conference room-2301 Tower Drive Anyone wanting to participate in the web and telephone-based methods are encouraged to contact the District Administrator, John Loomis at 651-728-6038 or [email protected]. This is to assist with meeting management and is not to […]
To control the spread of invasive Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) along pond and lake shorelines, a tiny and very hungry beetle has been recruited to help. The Galerucella Beetle (Galerucella), discovered by scientists for its exclusive taste for Purple Loosestrife leaves, is a tiny European beetle that has been used as a biological control since […]
The South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) is excited to announce that it has been awarded $3,500,000 in 3M Priority 2 Settlement funding to continue hydrologic and habitat restoration work in Grey Cloud Slough, an important side channel of the Mississippi River. This funding, along with future local allocations planned in SWWD’s Long-Range Work Plan, are […]
Summer time is a convenient time to break out the hose and sponge and wash our cars at home. But did you know there are ways that washing cars or repairing vehicles can impact water quality? Rain washes anything on our driveways, streets, and paved surfaces down storm drains and into lakes and rivers. Chemicals […]
Goldfish are a non-native, invasive species that interrupt normal ecosystem processes when they become established in a waterbody. They actively disturb pond bottom sediments in search of food, causing low water clarity. This also makes nutrients like phosphorus available for algae to use, leading to unwanted blooms. It is very important that goldfish are not […]
SWWD is continuing efforts to control growing infestations of aquatic invasive species (AIS) like curly-leaf pondweed (CLP) and Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) in the 2026 growing season. Spring treatment will be conducted at Markgrafs and Wilmes (north basin) for curly-leaf pondweed. Why is treatment occurring? CLP and EWM cause significant nuisance conditions on District lakes, making […]
Have you seen this purple flower before? While Purple Loosestrife may look appealing, it is an invasive plant, causing ecological havoc. Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.) is a highly invasive plant that is often found along shorelines. The plant was introduced to the US in the 1800s as an ornamental species native to Europe and Asia. […]
This spring, SWWD is undertaking a project to stabilize the stream channel between the Ravine Lake outlet and Highway 61. This project will address the erosion that this channel has seen over the past decade. The project will: To complete this project, tree clearing is necessary. Tree clearing will occur in February 2026, followed by […]
A new mural has been installed at the Wilmes Lake Alum Treatment Facility in Woodbury, MN. The painting, by local Native artist Nipinet Landsem, is a celebration of the connections between us and our water in mural form. The design features the Mississippi River and St. Croix River, which border the South Washington watershed, colorful […]
SWWD is continuing AIS management in fall 2025 and will be treating several bodies throughout the district for aquatic invasive species (AIS), including Colby Lake, La Lake, and Ravine Lake. Several lakes have extensive infestations of Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) and curlyleaf pondweed (CLP). Treatments will be conducted using herbicides to address the infestation. Eurasian Watermilfoil […]