Checking in with a MN Water Steward
by Michelle Spangler
After living in Colorado for over a decade, I moved back to the Midwest in 2007. One of the things that brought me to Minnesota was the plentiful water: over 10,000 lakes and a myriad of streams and rivers, including our Mighty Mississippi.
At first, I took Minnesota’s water for granted, but after I’d lived here for a few years, I learned that even Minnesota’s water needed help. From pesticides and fertilizers used on industrial farms to micro plastics appearing in aquatic life, some of the problems facing water seemed overwhelming. However, my interest was piqued when I read an article in Minnesota Conservation Monthly about a group of people, called Minnesota Water Stewards, who helped their neighbors install rain barrels and rain gardens and talked to their community about how they could make little changes to impact our most precious resource.
In 2017, I enrolled in the Minnesota Water Steward (MWS) program through a partnership with our watershed district, Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) and the Freshwater Society. I loved the camaraderie of being with other people from my community who were also passionate about the environment. We learned about native plants, the mechanics of permeable pavers and rain gardens, environmental policy, and using values to influence behaviors around environmental decisions.
MWS are “regular” people just like you and me who have decided to take that extra step to do something for the planet they love. Each Water Steward has their own niche that only they can fill: whether it’s their particular passion and talents or their unique ability to reach out to their neighbors. From raising awareness about the role storm drains play in the health of our Mississippi River to working with our legislature to pass the Smart Salting bill that minimizes salt use during the winter months, all over the state, Water Stewards are using their training and passion to make an impact in improving our water.
Other Water Stewards, like Annie Hejny and Sara Nassif, are artists using painting and textiles to connect people with nature and raise awareness about our relationship with water. Other water stewards are initiating “trash walks” or installing rain gardens in City medians.
Fellow MWS and Eastside owner, Audrey Cullen, and I are working with EFC to host a series of environmental-focused events to provide owners and shoppers a deeper understanding of the issues affecting water in our community. This past spring at our Earth Day Clean Up, Eastside owners collected more than 300 gallons of trash! This summer, we’ll be hosting a rain garden maintenance workshop followed by a smart-salting training this fall.
With the effects of environmental degradation becoming ever more apparent, the urgency for each of us to step up and do our part is mounting. I welcome you to attend the environmental- focused classes Eastside is hosting this year. If you’re wondering how you can do more to help water in our community, I encourage you to check out becoming a Minnesota Water Steward too!