Through Lake of the Woods - Keep It Clean, University students worked with community partners to identify solutions for environmental challenges related to ice fishing. Partners included the Lake of Woods Keep It Clean Committee, Northwest RSDP and Humphrey School.

The City of Fertile, Agassiz Environmental Learning Center, Northwest RSDP and College of Design Minnesota Design Center are working together to develop a recreation and environmental awareness master plan for the Fertile area, with an emphasis on river recreation.

A portfolio of nature play projects supported by Northwest RSDP enhance connections to nature and foster water stewardship. Board members such as Tim Williamson (right), with Friends of Lake Bemidji State Park, play a core role in shaping and supporting these projects.

We Are Water MN, a traveling exhibit of the Minnesota Humanities Center, spurs conversations about stewardship of water resources. Northwest RSDP joined other hosting partners such as Nicole Bernd, (left) West Polk Soil and Water Conservation District, in supporting local convenings around the exhibit.

Torin McCormack of the Roseau River Watershed District presented on the Roseau River Water Trail Masterplan developed through a partnership among the Northwest RSDP, Roseau River Watershed District, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, College of Design Center for Sustainable Building Research and Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA).

In the evening between meetings, participants engaged in a community viewing of the Power of Minnesota documentary hosted by the Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) at Crookston's Grand Theatre. Extension RSDP's Lissa Pawlisch, CERTs Director, engaged attendees in a conversation on clean energy solutions in Minnesota.

Northwest RSDP board members Gail Larson (Newfolden) and Bob Backman (Ogema).

University of Minnesota Water Resources Center's Joel Larson, RSDP's Kathy Draeger, and RSDP board member Sean Yang (Walnut Grove).

City of Gary Mayor Karie Kirschbaum (left), pictured with RSDP's Connie Carlson, shared information on the Gary Pines project supported by the Northwest RSDP.

University of Minnesota Institute on the Environment's (IonE) Fred Rose presented on IonE's impact goals in the areas of carbon neutrality, safe drinking water and sustainable land use, and opportunities for collective actio n.

Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources' Henry Van Offelen, a Northwest RSDP board alumnus and work group member, shared data on water quantity and quality trends in the Red River Valley and state.

Ojibwe elder Sharon Day, Nibi Walks leader and Clean Water Council member, spoke of indigenous relationships to water and ways of caring for this precious resource.

Institute on the Environment's Kate Brauman discussed the importance of building diverse community-University partnerships to achieve water quality goals for our state.

Event participants engaged in a cross-cultural conversation about equity, led by RSDP board member and Extension Educator Shirley Nordrum (Cass Lake). Photo via Crookston Times.