The Minnesota DNR has published a 60-day public comment period for proposed updates to the Public Waters Inventory (PWI) in Brown, Chisago, Crow Wing, and Douglas counties, and has notified officials in Carver, Chippewa, Grant, and Pine counties that updates are beginning there as well. The PWI is the legal tool that determines which lakes, wetlands, and streams qualify as "public waters" under Minnesota law — and which therefore carry the full weight of state protections and permitting requirements. How the PWI tool is used in these four counties will set a precedent for how the rest of the state will be treated.
Conservation Minnesota has long championed more sustainable biofuel production in our state—and the 2026 legislative session delivered a meaningful step forward.
Each spring, Conservation Minnesota and GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations work together to host a tour for volunteer city commissioners and staff whose focus is on environment, sustainability, energy, parks, and trails. Earlier this month, we gathered at the Capitol Region Watershed District Learning Center in St. Paul to tour the traveling We Are Water exhibit and get a firsthand look at their LEED Gold certified building.
We’re excited to announce the results for this year’s Conservation Crew Awards. For the first time, our People’s Choice Award was open to voting by the public.
