Capitol Region Watershed District

10/23/2026

At Highland Bridge in Saint Paul, we flipped standard stormwater management on its head and made water the centerpiece.

Capitol Region Watershed District Deputy Administrator Bob Fossum, City of Saint Paul - Government Economic Development Project Manager Tia Anderson, and Ryan Companies US, Inc. Associate Director of Engineering Anthony Adams uncover what happens when a once-in-a-lifetime redevelopment project is designed with the Mississippi River in mind.

10/09/2026

Our recent rain garden planting with City of Saint Paul - Government staff and Mayor Her at the Wheelock-Grotto Phase II street reconstruction project highlights the ongoing partnership between the City and CRWD. Incorporating rain gardens into street projects like this makes construction more efficient because crews are already excavating the area, identifying and replacing utilities, and replacing curbs and gutters.

Curb-cut boulevard rain gardens help slow down and soak up stormwater by diverting polluted runoff from the street into gardens filled with native plants. During a rainstorm, water pools at the bottom of the garden where it is absorbed by the deep-rooted plants. Curb-cut rain gardens soak up street runoff, help reduce local flooding, and improve water quality in our lakes and the Mississippi River.

Since 2006, CRWD has coordinated with the City of Saint Paul to build over 300 boulevard rain gardens that together treat 19.7 million gallons of stormwater each year!

Photo, left to right: Saint Paul Public Works Director Deb Barber; CRWD Administrator Anna Eleria; Saint Paul Assistant Mayor Nick Stumo-Langer; Saint Paul Mayor Her; Saint Paul City Project Engineer and Wheelock Grotto project manager Barb Mundahl, CRWD Board Manager Hawona Sullivan Janzen; Saint Paul Assistant City Engineer Steve Dodge; and CRWD Facility Management Division Manager Forrest Kelley.

10/08/2026

We're hiring! CRWD is seeking a full-time Administration and Operations Manager to perform advanced-level duties assisting the Administrative Division.

The Administration and Operations Manager will be responsible for financial administration, payroll, human resources, facilities management, records administration, organizational support services, and Board and CAC support. The Manager will implement the administration of the District’s accounting and payroll software and will serve as the primary liaison with the software provider. They will coordinate the District’s annual financial audit and provide financial documentation and records as requested.

Additionally, they will work with the Administrator to develop and coordinate the annual employee benefits program and manage District insurance policies. They will oversee the operation, maintenance replacement planning, and procurement of District facilities, grounds, equipment, vehicles, and building systems. Lastly, they will administer the District’s organizational policies and manage contracts with external partners. Additional duties will be required as needed.

The application deadline is October 30, 2026. You can find the full job description and details on how to apply on our website.

Capitol Region Watershed District (CRWD or District) staff is responsible for a variety of tasks related to the District's mission, including watershed rules and permitting, water quality monitoring, education and outreach, water resource improvement pr...

09/29/2026

Our current 10-year Watershed Management Plan (Plan) guides our actions in a coordinated, thoughtful, and effective way from 2021 to 2030. We developed the Plan in collaboration with residents, stakeholders, and partners who serve key roles in achieving District goals.

This year, we completed a mid-plan review to measure progress on our Plan's 93 goals and sub-goals across 8 goal categories. Our review found that we are meeting 70% of the goals and accomplishing the projects and programs needed to meet them.
Read highlights from the past five years in the article linked in the comments, and learn what's ahead for our Watershed District!

Photo: Mississippi River near downtown Saint Paul. Photo by Sara Rubenstein.

09/25/2026

This week we held the McMurray Fields Park and Stormwater Improvement Project Groundbreaking Ceremony on Wednesday, September 23. City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez, City of Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her, Ramsey County Commissioner Garrison McMurtrey, CRWD Administrator Anna Eleria, and CRWD Board Manager Hawona Sullivan Janzen shared remarks about the importance of Como Lake and Como Regional Park, and the project’s history and many benefits to the community, environment and water quality.

When the project is complete, an underground stormwater storage system will capture and treat runoff from 160 acres, allowing it to be reused for irrigation or to soak into the ground. The project will improve water quality in Como Lake by reducing stormwater that carries pollutants like phosphorus. Anticipated annual pollution reductions include about 85 pounds of phosphorus, 11 tons of sediment, and an 85% reduction in stormwater runoff. The project will also reduce drinking water used for irrigation by 96% and reduce local flooding.

CRWD and the City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation are working together on the project, and Public Works supported the pre-project installation. The project’s stormwater improvements are supported by the Board of Water and Soil Resources’ Clean Water Fund and a Stormwater Resiliency Grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the voter-approved Common Cents fund supports the City’s portion of the project.

Above photo, left to right: CRWD Board President Joe Collins; CRWD Planning, Projects and Grants Division Manager and McMurray Project Lead Nate Zwonitzer; City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Design and Construction Manager Alice Messer; City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Lead Landscape Architect Dave Ronzani; City of Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez; City of Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her; CRWD Administrator Anna Eleria; Ramsey County Commissioner Garrison McMurtrey; CRWD Board Manager Hawona Sullivan Janzen; and CRWD Board Manager Rick Sanders.

09/23/2026

We’re celebrating 28 amazing years!🥳

On this day in 1998, the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources officially established Capitol Region Watershed District thanks to a dedicated group of residents concerned about Como Lake. Since then, we've completed more than 1,700 clean water projects, ranging from neighborhood rain gardens to the award-winning 122-acre Highland Bridge. Today, we're proud to be recognized as a national leader in stormwater management.

Our District covers 40 square miles, including Como Lake, Crosby and Little Crosby Lakes, and Loeb Lake in Saint Paul, and Lake McCarrons in Roseville. By working together with public and private partners, community organizations, and local residents, we continue to protect and improve our precious water resources and the Mississippi River.

Photo: CRWD-ers celebrating at the McMurray Fields Project Groundbreaking on September 23, our anniversary, showing their love for Como - the lake that started it all!

09/22/2026

Come work with us! CRWD is seeking a full-time Water Resources Regulatory Specialist to assist the Regulatory Division in implementing and enforcing CRWD Rules that protect water resources of the District.

The specialist will be responsible for permit application and plan review for new development and redevelopment projects requiring CRWD permits. Review will include wetland delineations and permitting, along with stormwater, erosion/sediment control, and floodplain Rules.

The specialist will also perform inspection of active construction sites, ensure completion of permit closure requirements, assist with maintenance inspections, and communicate findings to a wide range of partners. Work will be split between field work for wetland assessment and inspection, and office work for development plan review, follow-up communication with engineers and contractors, and other duties as needed.

The application deadline is October 13, 2026. You can find the full job description and details on how to apply on our website:

We are currently accepting applications for the following positions.

09/17/2026

This Saturday, September 19, you're invited to a full day of poetry, art, and community at Raspberry Island with Public Art Saint Paul's Wakpa Triennial Art Festival. Free and open to all.

CRWD is sponsoring the Sidewalk Poetry Reading, 10 AM – 2 PM
Hear 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest poems centering water and community voices. Please RSVP - link in the comments. We hope to see you there!

Full Schedule on Saturday, Sept. 19 at Raspberry Island in Saint Paul is available on wakpa.org/schedule

09/11/2026

Looking forward to the Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour Eco Fair on Sunday, Sept. 13! 🚲