Building partners for greater stewardship

2012 Great River Greening accomplishments with your supportThanks to our friends and supporters, in 2012, Greening increased the scope of our impact, achieving more diverse conservation results and expanding our geography. Our conservation programs demonstrate our growing leadership in conservation partnerships throughout the greater Twin Cities and beyond. Thank you!1,800 Greening partners and volunteers restored 3,100 acres by planting trees, shrubs, forbs, and grasses, and removing invasive species.We engaged more youth by introducing a new program in 2012, in partnership with the Conservation Corps, to teach personal development and job skills. Like our Science Area Teen Network, the new Summer Youth Job Corps serves at-risk youth.

Conservation programs leveraged resources and partners

Seven-Mile Creek Watershed; Minnesota River Program: Thirteen conservation practices got underway last year at Seven Mile Creek in Nicollet County, a tributary of the Minnesota River and the only designated trout stream in the southern Minnesota region.Metro Area program: 

In 2012, Greening volunteers worked to improve water quality at local lakes and waters, including: Cedar Lake Farm Regional Park in New Prague, Colby Lake in Edgewater Park, Woodbury, and Spring Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake.

Anoka Sandplain Partnership: 

In 2012, this partnership, comprising 20 government agencies and NGOs, restored and enhanced almost 2,000 acres including work at Carlos Avery, the largest Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in the Twin Cities Metro Area and one of the iconic WMAs in the state of Minnesota.

Rum River Watershed program: Greening is working collaboratively with Minnesota DNR, Minnesota Land Trust, and others to improve 1,960 feet of shoreline and 52 acres along the Wild and Scenic Rum River in Isanti County. Three restoration projects were initiated in 2012.

Community awards Greening received in 2012:

• Conservation Partner Award: Presented by National Wild Turkey Federation
• Best Booth Display: Presented by HandsOn Twin Cities.
• Random Acts of Kindness Award: Presented by the City of Brooklyn Center.
• Environmental Excellence Award: Presented by the City of Woodbury.