Capitol Region Watershed District

06/05/2026

You're invited to AquaSonos Community Listening with Dameun Strange, an immersive sound installation listening party on Saturday, June 6, from 6:00 - 9:00 pm at our Watershed Learning Center (595 Aldine Street, Saint Paul, MN 55104). Details in comments.

06/03/2026

UPDATE on Thursday, June 4, 2026:
We have been closely monitoring the situation at Como Lake. We are now observing over a thousand dead fish in the lake. Removal of the dead fish will begin tomorrow morning, Friday, June 5. We will provide any additional updates here as needed.

Original Post from Wednesday, June 3. 2026:
Como Lake recently had a fish die-off that is likely due to low oxygen in the water. Fish need oxygen in the water to breathe and can become stressed and die when oxygen levels in the lake drop quickly. CRWD staff investigated and confirmed the die-off of about 100 bluegill sunfish and crappies earlier this week.

Following last week’s heat wave, we observed a sudden shift in the lake’s oxygen levels at our continuous monitoring stations. Oxygen levels in the lake can drop quickly as the water surface warms. High temperatures can also cause rapid decomposition of algae and aquatic plants like curly-leaf pondweed, further reducing oxygen levels in the lake as they decompose, and giving off a foul odor.

We appreciate the concerned community members who reached out to us and our partners at Saint Paul Parks and Recreation, Ramsey County, Minnesota, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Please note that we typically don’t remove dead fish and instead allow them to remain in the food chain for other species to consume. The fish die-off is not impacting Como Lake’s water quality for general use or posing a risk to humans or pets at the lake.

Como Lake Fishing Pier. Photo by Ackerman + Gruber.

06/02/2026

Happy National Mississippi River Day! Today, we celebrate, protect, and connect with our nation’s most iconic waterway!

Stretching more than 2,000 miles from northern Minnesota to southern Louisiana, the Mississippi River provides drinking water to over 20 million people and supports critical wildlife habitat. Every lake, stream, and wetland in CRWD ultimately drains to the Mississippi River.

No matter where you are in the watershed, your actions matter. Join us to connect with the river and help protect it by
- picking up trash
- volunteering to clear a storm drain (or two) near you
- cleaning up after your pet
- planting a rain garden

By working together, we can protect, restore, and celebrate the Mississippi River for a cleaner, healthier future.

05/28/2026

Listening shapes our days in ways both personal and shared: conversations over breakfast, lessons in the classroom, the hum of a podcast while waiting for the bus.

What happens when we pause to listen together, intentionally?

Join us for an evening of immersive listening inspired by the sounds of the Capitol Region Watershed, from the deep history of Como Lake to the birds and rhythms of Frogtown Farm. Sound scores by musician and composer Dameun Strange will transform CRWD’s building and outdoor gardens into listening environments designed for reflection, connection, and discovery.

Experience three immersive works, including a new composition created from field recordings gathered during the April 25 Aquasonos workshop.

Find more details and register here https://www.capitolregionwd.org/event/art-water-workshop-aquasonos-community-listening/

Picture credit: Aquasonos River Sequences (2023), by Dameun Strange. Photo by Drew Arrieta.

05/21/2026

Bang Brewing owners Sandy and Jay Boss Febbo know the value of protecting clean water through sustainable practices. They transformed their brewery’s lot into rain gardens and native plantings with support from our Clean Water Project Grants and other conservation partners.

They shared their story as one of our community storytellers for the We Are Water MN exhibit at our Watershed Learning Center (595 Aldine Street, Saint Paul), now through June 14. The exhibit is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and 1 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays. Admission is free.

Sandy and Jay Boss Febbo shared their story as part of We Are Water MN, a traveling exhibit and community engagement program that explores Minnesotans’ relationships with water.

05/20/2026

Don't miss out! Dameun Strange is hosting a Community Listening event at our Watershed Learning Center (595 Aldine Street, Saint Paul) on Saturday, June 6th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, and you're invited!
Details and optional registration in our link in bio.

05/13/2026

We are partnering with the City of Saint Paul (Saint Paul Natural Resources and Saint Paul Parks and Recreation) and a contractor to construct formal access paths for fishing and lakeside viewing around Como Lake. Work will continue through mid-summer, and some areas will be fenced off through early fall to give plants time to establish. The trails remain open, but temporary detours and fencing may be in place. Please follow the posted signage. Link to City of Saint Paul's project details in the comments.

Improvements include creating durable paths using stone pavers, slabs, fieldstone, and decomposed granite in areas that were previously bare soil. We are also restoring vegetation including expanding the shoreline buffer with native prairie plantings.

The lake access points on the west side of the lake near Horton Avenue and W Como Boulevard, and the east side of the lake just south of the parking lot are open. Have you visited yet? This strawberry hatted tot approves!

05/12/2026

Our hearts are full after an inspiring Sidewalk Poetry Workshop led by Kevin Yang, in partnership with Public Art Saint Paul. Kevin guided the group through creative poetry prompts followed by discussions. We laughed a lot together and had fun writing. We’re excited to read the poems everyone submits.

Saint Paul residents can still submit up to two poems to the 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest through June 3. Writers of all ages and experience levels are welcome. Selected poems will be stamped on sidewalks across the city. Learn more at Public Art Saint Paul (link in the comments).

Thank you to Public Art Saint Paul, Kevin Yang, and everyone who joined us on Saturday!

This event was part of the We Are Water MN exhibit at our Watershed Learning Center from April 23 to June 14, 2026. Stop by and check it out!

05/11/2026

The sustainable, stacked infrastructure at the Highland Bridge Redevelopment received an Honor Award at the 2026 American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Engineering Excellence Awards last week.

Capitol Region Watershed District is honored to be a part of this award-winning project along with our partners at the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation and Public Works Divisions, Barr Engineering Co., Kimley-Horn, and Ryan Companies US, Inc.

The innovative stacked infrastructure at Highland Bridge combines surface features—like rain gardens, planted areas, and permeable surfaces—with underground storage and filtration to manage stormwater. Each year, the system treats about 64 million gallons of rainwater, keeping an estimated 20 tons of sediment and 147 pounds of phosphorus out of the Mississippi River.

Photo left to right: Matt Metzger (Barr Engineering), Bob Fossum (Capitol Region Watershed District, Deputy Administrator), Anna Eleria (Capitol Region Watershed District, Administrator), Anthony Adams (Ryan Companies), Dan Elenbaas (Kimley-Horn), Katie Turpin-Nagel (Barr Engineering Co.), and Nathan Campeau (Barr Engineering).

01/26/2026

It's Winter Salt Awareness Week.

Every winter, tons of salt are spread on roads, parking lots, and sidewalks to keep us safe. But once the snow melts, that salt doesn’t disappear—it washes into our lakes, streams, and groundwater. Rising salt levels corrode infrastructure, stress wildlife, and pose risks to our drinking water supplies.

This year, CRWD is joining partners across the country to spotlight this growing challenge during Winter Salt Week, January 26–30, 2026. The week is dedicated to helping communities understand the impacts of salt pollution and explore practical steps we can all take to protect freshwater.

Throughout the week, leading experts in environmental science, public works, engineering, and policy will share insights on smarter winter maintenance, community action, and innovative solutions already taking root. Whether you’re a resident, property manager, or simply curious about protecting local waters, there’s something for you.

Join a series of free, live YouTube events daily at 12:30 pm CT.

Learn more at www.wintersaltweek.org

Together, we can keep winter roads safe and our waters healthy.

Read stories of private contractors and municipalities that have successfully reduced salt usage while maintaining safe conditions for their customers and residents.