Thanks for listening to The Watershed, a podcast of We Are Water MN. In this episode, we dive into the world of storm drains. What do storm drains do, and why do they matter? How can we protect them?

In this episode, we will deepen our understanding of stormwater and storm drains. We will learn about one organization (Adopt-a-drain) leading storm drain protection efforts in an awesome way in Minnesota and beyond. We’ll hear from three storytellers—Shafay Williams, Demar Ballard, and Sarah Drake—who are mobilizing to protect storm drains through their artwork and community outreach.

Tune in for a blend of background information, inspiration, and practical tips you can use to protect storm drains.

The video “Clean Water Begins at Your Curb” was shared in this episode. Thank you to Adopt-a-drain.org, Hamline University’s Center for Global Environmental Education, and Twin Cities Public Television for permission to share this audio. You can view the video at https://cgee.hamline.edu/current-initiatives/adopt-a-drain

We Are Water MN will be hosted by Mississippi River – Sartell Watershed partners including Stearns County Soil and Water Conservation District in spring of 2024. You can visit the exhibit at Art in Motion on the Lake Wobegon Trail, in Holdingford, from April 25 through June 17. Learn more at https://www.stearnscountyswcd.net/wawmn.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

· In 2024, Adopt-a-drain will celebrate ten years! You can learn more about their organization and adopt a drain near you at https://adopt-a-drain.org/. Social media: @adoptadrainmn

· You can learn more about Sarah Drake, as well as her nonprofit, HerARTS in Action, at https://www.herartsinaction.org/. Social media: @herartsinaction

· If you’d like to dive deeper into the world of stormwater, you can consult the Minnesota Stormwater Manual: https://stormwater.pca.state.mn.us/index.php?title=About_the_Minnesota_Stormwater_Manual

This episode of the Watershed was produced by Angela Hugunin, and by We Are Water MN, which is led by the Minnesota Humanities Center in partnership with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension.

We are Water MN is funded in part with money from the Clean Water, Land, & Legacy Fund that was created with the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 and by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Special thanks to Emma Needham, who conducted our interviews in Holdingford. Thank you to Leah Lemm, who interviewed Sarah Drake. Thank you to Shafay Williams, Demar Ballard, and Sarah Drake, our interviewees for this episode.

You can find We Are Water MN on Facebook (⁠https://www.facebook.com/wearewatermn/⁠), Instagram (⁠https://www.instagram.com/wearewatermn/⁠), and Twitter (⁠https://twitter.com/wearewatermn⁠). Follow along for the latest updates!

Music credits: These Times, Beignet, and Glass Beads by Blue Dot Sessions (⁠www.sessions.blue⁠).

You can learn more about We Are Water MN and upcoming host sites at ⁠mnhum.org/water⁠.

40 | Microorganisms and the Big Picture (Stillwater, MN)

The WatershedBy We Are Water MNDec 21, 2023