1/10/2024 - Watershed Partners meeting: Supporting the long-term care of natural landscapes

Topic: Supporting the long-term care of natural landscapes and clean water planting projects
For the past twenty years, local government partners and conservation organizations have promoted raingardens, native plantings, and shoreline restoration projects as key strategies for protecting surface and groundwater resources and maintaining pollinator and wildlife habitat. As native landscaping has grown in popularity, however, many communities have struggled to find long-term care and maintenance strategies that work. In addition, public perceptions and attitudes about what a native landscape “should” look like can vary.
Example strategies that area organizations have developed to support long-term care of natural landscapes include:
Creating an annual inspections program and staff-level positions to inspect and maintain watershed-funded projects (Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District)
Hiring and training youth and young adults to conduct landscape maintenance (Metro Blooms - Sustainable Landcare Program & Mississippi Watershed Management Organization - Green Team)
Creating a volunteer Adopt-a-Raingarden program (Washington Conservation District)
Providing “legacy” payments to landowners who maintain high-quality natural landscapes (Comfort Lake - Forest Lake Watershed District).
In this meeting, speakers from the East Metro Water Resource Education Program and Metro Blooms will share landcare trends they’ve observed in recent years, as well as lessons learned from surveys and focus group sessions.
Presentations and Speakers:
Lessons learned from shoreline landowners in Carnelian-Marine-St. Croix Watershed District - Angie Hong, East Metro Water Resource Education Program
Landcare trends and strategies for supporting residents and government partners - Ab Fleming and Jen Ehlert, Metro Blooms
Speaker Bios:
Angie Hong (she/her): Water Resource Education Senior Specialist
Angie Hong is the coordinator for Minnesota’s East Metro Water Resource Education Program, a local government partnership with 30 members in Washington, Ramsey, Chisago and Isanti Counties. In her free time, she enjoys singing, gardening, and exploring the outdoors. For nature-based adventures, environmental education, and conservation inspiration, check out her upcoming book “Exploring the St. Croix River Valley: Adventures on and off the Water” or follow her on TikTok and Instagram at @mnnature_awesomeness. Angie lives in Stillwater with husband Gary, son Charlie, dog Molly, and cats Teddy, Twilight, and Clover.
Jennifer Ehlert (she/her): Vice President of Metro Blooms Design + Build, Co-Director of Design
Jennifer has a Bachelor’s Degree in Plant Science + Sustainable Agriculture from Cornell University and a Masters of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University. She has worked on merging ecological and aesthetic principles in site design for 16 years, including commercial and public projects at CLH Design in Raleigh, NC, as well as stormwater-focused residential and commercial design in North Carolina and Minnesota. Her work at Metro Blooms combines her passions for plants and planting design with engaging and educating people about creating resilient and beautiful landscapes. Jen leads the design team at Metro Blooms Design+Build, ensuring that equity principles are incorporated throughout company culture and projects. She has a strong passion for this work, leading design on numerous affordable housing projects, ensuring that design processes and implementation center resident voice, values and needs.
Ab Fleming (they/them): Sustainable Landcare Manager + Lead Trainer
Ab joined Metro Blooms in April 2021 after building their first rain garden while serving a term with the Conservation Corps. They have a background in retail greenhouse labor and an education in both Interpersonal Communication and Urban Forestry. They are deeply interested in native plant ecology and insects, and love working hands-on in the diverse landscapes they care for. Ab considers themself both an educator and a lifelong student, and appreciates the opportunity to fill a variety of roles at Metro Blooms. In their free time, Ab enjoys creating things and spending time with their loved ones.