The North Shore Watershed Watch (NSWW), is a citizen-based initiative to monitor and build public awareness of the ever-increasing development pressure on the North Shore, a serious threat to the water quality and natural habitat of the watershed.  The group consists of volunteer leaders of MEP members groups (Save Lake Superior Association, Duluth Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Izaak Walton League, and Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness), along with several unaffiliated citizen activists concerned about development activities in or near their communities.

Through organizing and education activities, NSWW is working to shape processes that can lead to more citizen involvement and better decision-making for the North Shore.  To that end, they have produced the “Citizens’ Action Guide” on the topic of how citizens can be meaningfully involved in decisions concerning the protection and development of the region.

Demonstration Rain Garden Planted and Ready to Catch Rainwater

Click here to view photos of the rain garden.

After lots of hard work by MEP consultant Jill Jacoby and community members, MEP’s demonstration rain garden in Two Harbors is planted and ready to catch rainwater runoff.

A rain garden is designed and constructed to catch rainwater runoff.  Building homes, roads and parking lots removes the natural vegetation that once absorbed rainwater runoff.  This runoff now picks up pollutants and heat as it travels through the street, creates erosion, and brings sediment into a stream or lake.  A rain garden provides some of the benefits of a natural landscape by reducing runoff and allowing it to soak into the ground. Rain gardens also help to preserve water quality by filtering out pollutants and cooling the warm water that could affect fish.  Rain gardens also provide habitat for wildlife and can be planted with flowers to attract birds and butterflies.

The bricks used in the walkway are called Aqua-Brics, which allow rainwater to soak down into the earth. 

A fact sheet providing more rain garden information is available in the Agate Shop and the Superior Hiking Trail building.

This rain garden was designed and built by Maple Ridge Landscaping of Two Harbors.

Many thanks to the following people and organizations who made this demonstration rain garden possible:

• The Beim Foundation, River Network, and Freshwater Future provided financial support for the project. 

• Borgert Products, Inc. donated the Aqua-Bric for the walkway.

• Robert Anderson, along with Bob and Nancy Lynch (owners of the P.K. Anderson House), provided a visible location for the rain garden.

MEP hopes that visitors will find beauty in the garden and motivation to create a rain garden in their own yards.