Conservation Minnesota

Blazing Star Award

Our Blazing Star Award celebrates local governments for projects that advance conservation, climate resilience, environmental protection, or outdoor recreation opportunities. Applications for this year's awards are open now! Apply by March 18.

We honor and celebrate Black History Month.

Winter Salt Week - January 26-30, 2026

Just one teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons of water. Mark your calendars for Winter Salt Week, next week, January 26-30 and learn what you can do to help.

Paul Douglas: My eyes are wide open to Boundary Waters threats "If you contaminate the headwaters, you don’t kill just one lake; you poison the entire bloodstream of Minnesota’s last untouched wilderness," Douglas writes.

"If you contaminate the headwaters, you don’t kill just one lake; you poison the entire bloodstream of Minnesota’s last untouched wilderness."

Tell Me More—Removing lead pipes, how Minnesota protects drinking water Please join us for the next installment of Tell Me More: Talks With Conservation Minnesota. In 2023, Conservation Minnesota helped pass one of the largest state investments in the nation to address l...

Lead water lines are dangerous for drinking water. Minnesota is on its way to replacing every lead water line in the state by 2033. Join us Monday, January 26th at noon to learn what's next and what you can do.

Protect the Boundary Waters

URGENT ACTION: Minnesota Eighth District Rep. Stauber introduced a bill to overturn the federal 20-year ban on mining in the Boundary Waters watershed—and the House of Representatives is expected to vote on it this week. Take a minute to ask your congressperson to protect this beloved area.

Revisit the inspring outdoors stories of 2025 In a year of turbulent news, passion and commitment to outdoors stayed strong in west central Minnesota.

"In a year of turbulent news, passion and commitment to outdoors stayed strong in west central Minnesota."

The days are about to get a little longer. Tonight, enjoy the northern sky.

Readers Write: Toxic substances, electronics recycling, homelessness, affordability No one else’s daughter has to die.

"To strip away protections now is to ignore the lessons written in the bodies of our children."

Minnesotans know to take care of each other Helping to push a stranger’s car out of the snow. Shoveling beyond your own driveway. Checking on your neighbors when the coldest weather hits. Winters in Minnesota tend to bring out the best in us. T...

Conservation Minnesota stands with our immigrant neighbors.

Following a concerning 2014 report from the MPCA, Minnesota passed a ban on the sale of personal care products containing plastic microbeads. This bill and others like it helped lead to the federal Microbead-Free Waters Act, passed 10 years ago today.

Scientists warn federal funding cuts could undermine walleye recovery in Minnesota The Trump administration froze grant money awarded to the Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center in August and wants to cut its budget next year.

"President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget would eliminate all federal funding for MW CASC and the other eight regional climate science centers, which Congress began establishing in 2008."

Trump’s EPA wants to narrow the scope of federal water protections. What does that mean in Minnesota? Environmental advocates say the proposal could lead to increased pollution and destruction of wetlands that provide valuable benefits, including flood protection and wildlife habitat.

This is why state-level protections matter.

It’s cold outside: 5 things to know about reducing your home’s heating costs Federal tax credits for home efficiency improvements are expiring soon. But there are other programs to help homeowners shrink their energy bills.

"Making your home more energy-efficient can boost comfort, save money on winter heating, and lessen its environmental impact—all while potentially increasing its value."

These Amazing MN Nature Projects Are Funded By Lottery Players The Minnesota Lottery has come a long way, raising over $1.1 billion for community projects and environmental initiatives while exciting players with nearly $477 million in prizes last year.

"Over the past 34 years, the lottery has invested over $1.1 billion into over 1,700 projects in all 87 Minnesota counties."

‘One hell of a blessing’: Winter recreation businesses cash in on early-season snow Snowmobile dealer, popular ski hill say recent weather has bumped sales and interest.

"While it’s early in winter, the bursts of significant snowfall culminating with Tuesday’s storm are game-changing for Minnesota businesses and winter promoters that thrive on it."

MPCA urges Minnesotans to take it easy when salting driveways and sidewalks No one wants to slip and fall, but salting smart protects bundled-up humans AND the environment.

"Not only does all that salt damage infrastructure and plants, but it is also extremely harmful to lakes, rivers and streams."

Peatlands are protecting Minnesota's ecosystem. Scientists are working to restore them While peatlands occupy just 3% of Earth's land surface, scientists say they store about 30% of the planet's land-based carbon. That's more than double held by the world's forests, according to the Nat...

"While peatlands occupy just 3% of Earth's land surface, scientists say they store about 30% of the planet's land-based carbon. That's more than double held by the world's forests."

‘Forever chemicals’ slam small cities with big water bills as they surface farther from 3M sites Apple Valley will likely hike water rates to fund a $100 million project to rid its wells of PFAS.

"It’s not just places closest to Minnesota’s most infamous PFAS hotspot — the plants and dumpsites of 3M, the chemical giant that for decades manufactured “forever chemicals” — racing to find funds."

Winter 2025–26 Newsletter When progress feels slow, it helps to see how far we’ve come—together. We review recent game-changing wins and imagine a future that builds on the momentum. We're looking forward to working in the nex...

Our winter newsletter is out. Read where we're finding hope these days: conservationminnesota.org/news/winter-2025-26-newsletter

Duluth's Brighton Beach

Conservation Minnesota is committed to protecting our Great Outdoors for future generations. We work on state-level solutions to inter-connected issues like land, water, wildlife, climate and energy, and waste and toxics. Sign up for updates: conservationminnesota.org/get-updates