Conservation

Environmental Services is proud to collaborate, coordinate, and partner with community members, local nonprofits, and government agencies to accomplish our conservation goals. Check out our partner's websites.

The Land and it's People

Dakhóta ta makóče kiŋ de ohiŋniyaŋ ye. This is now and forever Dakota land.

Dakota people have lived on Mni Sota Makoce—the land that is now Minnesota—for centuries. Before the 19th century, they managed the woodlands, prairies and wetlands so they could hunt, gather food and medicine, farm the land, and engage with their spiritual beliefs. Dakota people also care for the land for the same reasons the city does today: to live in harmony with nature and to beautify our homes and communities.

American colonizers removed all of the Dakota people from their land and villages so they could establish Fort Snelling and eventually Saint Paul. Like the indigenous people of the land, early settlers valued the waterways, fertile land, and other abundant natural resources, but the along with the destruction of the traditional Dakota way of life came the rejection of traditional ecological knowledge.

By capitalizing on the advantageous natural resources and features of the land, the Twin Cities became the economic center of what would become Minnesota. Saint Paul is the northernmost point on the Mississippi that can be navigated by the barges, and Saint Anthony Falls in neighboring Minneapolis historically provided crucial waterpower for milling operations that provided flour for people across the country; these two invaluable natural features of the Mississippi created the conditions for the Twin Cities to flourish.

The natural resources of Saint Paul are also an important part of our city to this day; our drinking water comes from the Mississippi, boulevard trees provide shade for our homes and yards, and the natural beauty of our city enhances overall quality of life. 

Ecological Communities

Beyond the riverfront, the environment makeup of pre-urbanization Saint Paul was a mix of several biomes—or communities of plants and animals occupying certain habitats—including deciduous forestlands, oak savannas, tallgrass prairies, lakes, and wetlands. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, pollution and changing land use rendered much of the land unrecognizable, but thanks to preservation and restoration efforts throughout the years the biomes and the ecological services they provide have persisted as the city grew.

Forests in Saint Paul are dominated by deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves every winter). Healthy forests contain trees of varying ages, understory plants and shrubs that thrive alongside the trees, and a wide variety of wildlife. A major threat to woodlands in Minnesota is the invasive species called buckthorn. It is a fast-growing shrubby tree that quickly spreads and outcompetes native understory plants and young trees, so Saint Paul Environmental Services engages in buckthorn removal in many areas throughout the city to support forest health. Parks in Saint Paul where visitors can enjoy restored woodlands include Swede Hollow Park just east of downtown Saint Paul, the floodplain forests of Hidden Falls Regional Park and Crosby Farm Park, and the serene oak woodlands of Indian Mounds Cemetary.

Tallgrass Prairies are one of the rarest biomes in Minnesota today, and they support staggering levels of biodiversity. They are a fire-dependent ecosystem, meaning that periodic prescribed fire is necessary to recycle nutrients, remove layers of built-up vegetation, and prevent aggressive or invasive tree species from overtaking the grasses and flowers that belong there. Parks in saint paul where visitors can explore restored prairies include the vast expanse of Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary, the hidden gem of the east side at Highwood Preserve, and Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary which is co-managed with Wakan Tipi Awanyankapi. 

A raingarden is a bowl-shaped garden filled with vegetation that allows stormwater and polluted runoff to filter slowly into the ground.

Before humans extensively developed the land, rainwater fell to the ground and was naturally absorbed by soil and plants. Today cities like Saint Paul are covered with impervious surfaces like pavement, concrete, and roofs. Water that moves across these surfaces picks up pollutants such as sediment, motor oil, fertilizer, and chemicals. Without porous ground to filter into, this polluted water enters storm drains, eventually reaching nearby lakes, streams, and rivers and damaging the aquatic environment.

Raingardens are beneficial because they capture stormwater runoff before entering storm sewers and polluting our valuable water resources, such as Lake Phalen, Como Lake, and the Mississippi River. They also reduce the amount of water that enters the stormwater system, especially during heavy rain events.

Raingardens are often planted with native perennial plants, which have long roots that reduce soil compaction and increase water filtration. They even break down pollutants and absorb excess nutrients, which prevents them from entering bodies of water and improves soil health. These plants provide wildlife habitat for pollinators, birds, and others.

If you are interested in learning more about rain gardens, including how you can build one on your property, please visit the following resources:

• The Capitol Region Watershed District can help to install rain gardens on private property with their cost-share program.
• The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District offers a cost-share program to assist with projects that improve the water quality of the District.
• The Ramsey County Soil & Conservation division offers free technical assistance in addition to rain garden cost-sharing.