SWWD Partners with Artist Nipinet Landsem

The South Washington Watershed District is thrilled to formally announce the artistic partnership with Nipinet Landsem. A new mural will be installed at the Wilmes Lake Alum Treatment Facility in Woodbury, MN. Nipinet is a muralist, illustrator, and tattoo artist based in Minneapolis, MN. Much of their work involves water and our relationship to it […]

Bailey School Forest Restoration Project

The South Washington Watershed District and the City of Newport will proceed with a restoration project at the Bailey School Forest, which will begin in fall 2025. Bailey School Forest Park is a significant area located along the Mississippi River bluffs. The grassland, woodlands, and forest have become largely dominated by invasive and non-native species. […]

Well-Water Testing Clinic

What’s in your drinking water? Groundwater provides 100% of drinking water to those living in the South Washington Watershed District, whether it’s city pipe or a private well. While city piped water or tap water and well water in the area both come from the same source, how they are handled is different. Tap water […]

What is blue-green algae?

Have you ever been walking near a pond or lake and spotted what looked like a green, slimy substance on the water’s surface? You may have been seeing Blue-green algae, a harmful bacteria bloom that can occur when the temperature goes up, and nutrients are high. While Blue-green algae is often referred to as algae, […]

Meet Taylor Mills, Artist in Residence 2025

The South Washington Watershed District is excited to announce the selection of Taylor Mills as its Artist in Residence 2025. SWWD is honored to host another artist through its Artist in Residence program. Mills was selected from a robust applicant pool of area artists due to her unique ability to tell a story and create […]

SWWD Awarded Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant Funds

The SWWD has been awarded $250,000 from the Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources’ (BWSR) Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant Program. With the funds, the South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) will continue a coordinated effort with the cities of Newport and St. Paul Park to reduce sediment and nutrient loading to the Mississippi River. […]

Enhanced Street Sweeping in Woodbury

In 2022, the City of Woodbury, in partnership with SWWD, launched the Enhanced Street Sweeping pilot program and saw immediate success. Two years and three street sweepers later, SWWD takes a look at just how effective this BMP has been for stormwater management. Managing stormwater runoff is important to maintain water quality and reduce environmental […]

Spring 2025 AIS Treatments

SWWD is continuing efforts to control growing infestations of aquatic invasive species (AIS) like curly-leaf pondweed (CLP) and Eurasian watermilfoil (EWM) in the 2025 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 […]

Spring Cleaning “To Do’s” Should Include Picking Up Dog Poo

This year’s spring cleaning list should include picking up pet waste to prevent water quality contamination in the South Washington Watershed District. Pet waste is considered pollution, and when not picked up, it can negatively impact water quality. Waste from pets contains nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as pathogens and disease-causing bacteria. But what does […]

Call for Artists: Public Art at Wilmes Lake Alum Treatment Facility

The South Washington Watershed District (SWWD) seeks proposals to commission a professional artist or team of artists to design, fabricate and install a work of public art at the newly completed Wilmes Lake Alum Treatment Facility in Kargel Park, Woodbury, Minnesota. The selected artwork will be installed in a visible location on an exterior screen […]