Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies is Minnesota's largest wholesale and retail supplier of landscape hardgoods, masonry products, water garden supplies and custom stone fabrication.

Blue Community Makeover 2010

Partnership engages community for clean water in Diamond Lake

DIAMOND LAKE CITIZENS RECEIVE $224,224 MINNESOTA CLEAN WATER Fund grant for Go Blue! Community Makeover Project

DEEPHAVEN, MN – May 11, 2010.   An idea, started by a small group of south Minneapolis residents and a local landscaping firm, has resulted in a $224,224 state grant to improve water quality in South Minneapolis’ Diamond Lake by reducing stormwater runoff pollution.  The grant is through the Minnesota Clean Water Fund, one of four funds established through the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment (approved by voters in 2008).

“The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District (MCWD) was delighted to apply for this grant on behalf of Friends of Diamond Lake.  Homeowners in this area will now have resources to take actions to improve and protect Diamond Lake,” said Eric Evenson, MCWD Administrator.  “We are excited about the partnership because of the residents’ commitment to clean up their local water resource.”

The grant will provide funding for projects that capture stormwater runoff and pollutants before they reach Diamond Lake.  Raingardens, pervious pavements, and trees will capture water and help it soak into the ground.  Rain barrels and larger underground systems will allow for ‘capture and reuse’ of rainwater, reducing groundwater used for irrigation.  Finally, the project will sponsor workshops and other community outreach and education to promote simple ways neighbors can reduce runoff pollution.  Projects are planned for Pearl Park, Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, and about 50 residential properties in the Diamond Lake Drainage area.

The Go Blue! Diamond Lake Project is a unique partnership of local citizens, business, and government.  Last fall the Friends of Diamond Lake, a nonprofit citizen-led group dedicated to protecting and improving the natural resources of Diamond Lake, completed a lake management plan. The Plan includes a goal to champion projects by local property owners to reduce runoff.   At about the same time, Hedberg Landscape and Masonry Supplies was looking for a target neighborhood for an environmental “community makeover” project.  Friends of Diamond Lake jumped at the opportunity and asked Minnehaha Creek Watershed District to partner with them in applying for grant money to lessen the financial burden to property owners wishing to install clean water projects.  Other neighborhood partners are the Hale Page Diamond Lake Community Association, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Diamond Lake Lutheran Church, and Metro Blooms.

“Many partners have been working hard to make Go Blue! Community Makeover Project a reality.  We are all excited about the build-out of the residential stormwater projects,” said Julie Westerlund, MCWD Education and Communications Manager.  About 50 projects will be installed during the first two weeks of June.  “There will be a lot of activity in the neighborhood, and we are working to create a festive atmosphere for the residents.” A Celebration Picnic for all neighborhoods residents is planned for Friday, June 18 at Pearl Park.

Details about the Go Blue! Project are at http://www.goblue.friendsofdiamondlake.org/

This was one of 55 projects that were funded out of 210 applications to the Clean Water Fund. A total of $14 million was available, and there were more than $44 million requested by applicants. Work on the project is expected to begin in May, 2010 with an anticipated completion date of June, 2010.

The competitive grant applications were reviewed and ranked by an interagency team that included representatives from the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Minnesota Department of Health, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. The grant applications were approved by the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) on Jan. 28, 2010. The complete list of grant recipients is available on the BWSR website at:  www.bwsr.state.mn.us

 

Contact: Julie Westerlund, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District Education and Communications Manager, 952-471-0590 x 209, jwesterlund@minnehahacreek.org

Other Contacts:

Gail Schaal, Promotional Coordinator

Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies

Direct (763) 392-5920

E-mail:  gails@hedbergaggregates.com

Mary Martini, Friends of Diamond Lake Board Member

E-mail:  emmartini@comcast.net

About the MCWD

Since its formation in 1967, the MCWD, formed by the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners, has led the region in cutting edge research and technical expertise in the areas of water quality monitoring and management. The district protects, improves and manages water resources, runoff and related natural resources for 129 lakes, 8 major creeks and thousands of wetlands located within the 181 square mile watershed of Minnehaha Creek and Lake Minnetonka, in partnership with 29 communities, other agencies and concerned citizens.

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Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies provides landscape and masonry materials to retail homeowners and contractors in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin including Afton, Albertville, Andover, Anoka, Apple Valley, Arden Hills, Bayport, Big Lake, Blaine, Bloomington, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Buffalo, Burnsville, Cambridge, Champlin, Chanhassen, Chaska, Circle Pines, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Corcoran, Cottage Grove, Crystal, Deephaven, Delano, Eagan, East Bethel, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Elko New Market, Empire, Excelsior, Falcon Heights, Farmington, Forest Lake, Fridley, Golden Valley, Grant, Ham Lake, Hastings, Hopkins, Hudson, Hugo, Inver Grove Heights, Isanti, Lakeville, Jordan, Lino Lakes, Little Canada, Mahtomedi, Mankato, Maple Grove, Maple Plain, Maplewood, Mendota Heights, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Minnetrista, Mound, Mounds View, New Brighton, New Hope, New Richmond, North Oaks, Northfield, Oakdale, Orono, Osceola, Otsego, Plymouth, Prescott, Prior Lake, Ramsey, Red Wing, Richfield, Richmond, River Falls, Robbinsdale, Rogers, Rosemount, Savage, Shakopee, Shoreview, Shorewood, South St. Paul, Spring Lake Park, St. Anthony, St. Cloud, St. Francis, St. Louis Park, St. Michael, St. Paul, Stillwater, Taylor Falls, Vadnais Heights, Victoria, Waconia, Wayzata, West St. Paul, White Bear Lake, Woodbury, Wyoming. Products and services provided include sand, gravel, black dirt (soil), fill material, dumping, recycled concrete, base material, compost, decorative rock, rip rap, glacial boulders, fieldstone, mulch, wood chips, woodchips, landscape poly, fabric, geogrid (Mirafi, SRW), geotextile (SRW), erosion control blanket, silt fencing, adhesives and sealers (Pave Tech, SRW, TK, Techniseal), polymeric sand, edging, edgers, concrete pavers (Holland, tumbled, permeable, Anchor, Belgard, Interlock, Silver Creek), clay pavers (Belden, Endicott, Pine Hall Pavers, Yankee Hill, Purington used recycled, Missouri used recycled), retaining wall block (Anchor, Interlock, Rockwood, Belgard), slabs, clay pots, outdoor fireplaces (Stone Age, , fire pits, fire rings, fire tables, brick ovens, outdoor kitchens, grills, grill islands (Necessories, Harmony, Belgard), stone benches, stone tables, curbing, manufactured boulders, drain tile, sump baskets, PVC, NDS, pop up emitters, water gardening supplies, water treatments, pond kits, waterfalls, fountains, aerators, bogs and golf putting greens. Landscape natural stone options for patios and walls including flagstone and steppers irregular (Aqua blue, carnelian granite, charcoal granite, Rockville granite, Chilton limestone, Fond du Lac limestone, hickory gray limestone, Minnesota Dolomite, Kasota stone, bay-de-noc, desert bronze, plum creek, Virginia slate, Minnesota Iron Range stone, Rocky Mountain Quartzite gold silver and charcoal, New York Bluestone, Pennsylvania Lilac, highland brown, sandy creek, Tennessee Crab, Black Hills rustic, caramel cream, carmel cream, chico buff, Colorado buff, Colorado red, Cortez, Minnesota gold, and mahogany), flagstone cut and patterned (Chilton, Fond du Lac, Indiana Limestone, New York bluestone, Carmel Creek, Sandy Creek, Tumbled marble, Rainforest Quartzite, Tropical porphyry, wallstone, retaining wall stone (granite, Blue River, Chilton, Desert Bronze, Fond du Lac, Hickory Gray, Minnesota Dolomite, Kasota Stone, Waukesha White, Virginia Slate, Bluestone, chestnut, glacier bay, highland brown, mission springs, sandy creek, aqua grantique), steps (Carnelian and charcoal granite, sawn fieldstone boulders, Blue River limestone, Cedar Ridge, Chilton, Desert bronze, Fond du Lac, Minnesota Dolomite, Kasota stone, Minnesota Iron Range Virginia slate, Bluestone, Chestnut, highland brown, Sandy Creek), boulders and decorative outcroppings, stone paver paving stones (granite, used and recycled granite, Lannon Templeton, Glacier Bay), stone border edging, pebbles (Jade and Mexican Beach), benches, basalt columns and bird baths, masonry full veneer and natural thin veneer, mortar, bagged cement, Buechel Stone, Halquist Stone, manufactured stone, Eldorado Stone, Cascade Stone, Landmark Stone, cobble, Glen Gery brick, cast stone, cultured stone, slabs, cutstone, stone cutting, stone fabrication, hearths and mantles, stucco supplies, angle iron, lath, rebar, moisture control, clay brick, concrete block, chimney flues, fireplace, fire brick, stone sealers and cleaners, stone delivery.