by Louise Segreto and Paul Erdmann

Watching fireworks on the 4th of July seems as American as apple pie. It’s a tradition shared by countless millions across the United States. Debating about where to go each year to view a nearby fireworks display to celebrate the Holiday has been my family tradition for years. Perhaps it was our 125 lb., 10-year-old, beloved Newfoundland dog who is reduced to an anxious shivering wreck when the explosions begin, or maybe it was reading about people suffering from PTSD who are similarly triggered by the loud noises and smells of detonated explosives, but this year I came to think about our fireworks tradition more critically.

Lately, I have been giving a lot of thought to my own environmental ethics and how we share our earth with other living creatures. Can you just imagine how a mother bird in a nest of baby birds or other creatures that live near a fireworks display area are affected? There is some science that you can read online about how fireworks are extremely disruptive to birds and wildlife. However, there is really not enough of science to argue the issue. And, please understand that my goal is not to advocate a ban on what some will argue is our patriotic right to celebrate the Holiday as we always have. My hope is only to raise awareness and share a personal story:

It is a few minutes past 10 PM on July 4th and my daughter and I decide to hike up the ski hill at Hyland Hills Ski Area in Bloomington. From the top of where the chairlift drops skiers and snowboarders in winter, there is a panoramic view of the Southdale Area clear to the Mississippi River. We search in the darkness for the narrow-trodden path through the long grass leading to the top. The night is muggy and still, perfect for the voracious mosquitos and gnats to swarm us despite the DEET that I slathered on before I left home. With my eyes trained on the horizon, I am thrilled to see the sky lit up with brilliant light explosions from the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis, Edina’s Southdale Show, Richfield and other communities south along the Mississippi River. I can feel the thump, bang and whistle from miles away.

Looking down to swat a biting bug on my leg, I notice that we are surrounded by thousands of fireflies creating their own private light show. It is a magical and spectacular sight!

Also known as lightning bugs or glowworms, fireflies’ tails contain chemicals and enzymes that, when mixed with oxygen, allow them to glow (bioluminescence). Minnesota fireflies are most often yellow, but in other parts of the country and world you may see green, orange, or blue fireflies. Fireflies start displaying their light show in late May and peak in late June and early July.

Fireflies communicate with their light display. Males fly and flash to find females, who are usually sitting on vegetation signaling males that they like with their own display. They also emit light to defend territories and to say to predators “don’t eat me, I taste bad.”

Populations of fireflies are decreasing due to habitat loss and increased light pollution. Here are a few tips to help fireflies and other insects:

• Keep your yard dark by turning off exterior and garden lights and closing the blinds at night, making it easier for them to find one another to mate.
• Plant native trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers to provide habitat fireflies love.
• Leave some space for nature. Let some logs, leaves, and tree debris accumulate. Firefly larvae grow up in rotten logs and leaf litter (they glow too!)
• Avoid using pesticides and lawn chemicals. Good for wildlife and water quality.

As we approach the 4th of July, keep your eyes out at night for nature’s fireworks. You can find them on the edge of woods and marshy areas. Hyland Park is a great spot. Quietly blinking in the night with a rhythm only lightning bugs can understand, they steal the show. Their natural light show reminds me that subtle and quiet displays of beauty can far surpass what we are taught to enjoy. We stand in awe of the power of nature and its resilience to continue its fight for survival despite awful odds.

Learn more at http://www.xerces.org/endangered-species/fireflies

and https://www.firefly.org/

Photos: Fireflies over East Bay Pond by Paul Raymaker

Adult Firefly on Compass Plant by Paul Erdmann

By Paul Erdmann, Conservation Director

Road mortality is a serious threat to many different species of wildlife. As temperatures warm, turtles, frogs, snakes, and other amphibians and reptiles begin stirring, sunning themselves, and moving across roads. Turtles are especially vulnerable to injury or death by automobile. You can help turtles and other wildlife, but remember- SAFETY FIRST!

In late May and June, female turtles look for open sunny areas to lay their eggs, sometimes up to a mile away from their aquatic home. Males and non-breeding turtles seek out temporary or new habitats. Turtles migrate back to waterbodies in the late summer and early fall. All of this movement puts turtles in danger from our many roads, cars, and distracted drivers. Scientists estimate that painted turtles can live as long as 40 years in the wild, while Blanding’s and snapping turtles can live more than 70! Isn’t it a shame to see one killed by our cars? In 2015, one volunteer logged over 100 dead turtles on the roads around Bush Lake (Bloomington) alone. But she also helped many turtles safely cross the road. The volunteer collected data using a new mapping tool, called HerpMapper, sanctioned by the MN DNR. Collected data on both live and dead turtles can be provided to natural resource managers and city and highway departments, as innovative "turtle tunnels" are now being built in areas of high mortality. Check out all of the cool wildlife the Washington County turtle tunnel has saved on the MDNR Nongame Wildlife Program Facebook page (and lots of other cool wildlife photos): https://www.facebook.com/pg/MinnesotaNongameWildlifeProgram/photos/?tab=albums

How Can You Help Turtles?

• Never put yourself or others in danger! If you are driving, safely park and turn on hazard lights to alert others to slow down. Be aware of your surroundings and traffic.
• Allow turtles to cross on their own, unassisted, if there is no traffic.
• If you need to speed it up, grasp all turtles, EXCEPT snapping turtles, gently along the edge of the shell near the mid-point of the body. Turtles may be excited and use the bathroom, don't drop it!
• Snapping turtles should NEVER be picked up by the tail (it damages their spinal cord). Use a branch, broomstick, or snow shovel to prod it along from behind. If it bites the object, use it to drag the animal to the other side of the road.
• Maintain direction of travel. Move the turtle to low ground, in a direct line, in the same direction it was traveling. Do NOT remove it from its area of habitat.
• Protect turtle nests you find in your yard with a cage or plate. Protecting nests for a few weeks (until the scent of the nest subsides) from predators gives them a better chance at being successful. Moving turtle nests is rarely successful.
• Advocate for amphibians and reptiles! Support the MN DNR Nongame Wildlife Program and contribute with the Loon Checkoff on your taxes. Contact local and elected officials and let them know you care about protecting them.
• Do a turtle project at your Ike chapter or with a local group. Contact Paul Erdmann at pwerdmann@yahoo.com for ideas

More information:

"Turtles On The Move" video by the City of Bloomington

www.herpmapper.org

www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/index.html

https://mnherpsoc.org/help-a-turtle/

https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/reptiles_amphibians/helping-turtles-roads.html

by Paul Erdmann, Conservation Director

Most people are familiar with buckthorn, a non-native invasive plant that has taken over many acres of land in Bloomington and beyond. Another invasive plant to be wary of is garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata. This invader arrived with European settlers in the 1800s, likely for food and medicinal purposes. It is an early season biennial herb that thrives in many conditions, including woodlands, floodplains, and people’s yards. It spreads by seeds which are disbursed by ripe seed pods that can propel seeds several feet away, and by water, animals, and people. Because of its aggressive nature and prolific seeding, and lack of parasites and diseases, it alters ecosystems and chokes out beneficial native plants that pollinators and other wildlife depend on. Garlic mustard exudes chemicals into the soil that suppress native plants. Deer and other animals do not eat this plant. It is edible for people, and you can find pesto and other recipes online. When the leaves are crushed it emits a strong garlic smell. Garlic mustard often moves in after buckthorn removal or other disturbances, so monitoring for this plant and stopping its spread is critical.

The good news is that garlic mustard is more easily managed than buckthorn, especially if caught early, which is important as one plant can become hundreds in just a few years. In the Spring, before seed set, adult plants pull easily, especially when soil is moist. Be sure to pull the entire tap root, or it can re-sprout. Plants that are pulled and left on the ground may still flower and set seed. Flowering plants or plants with seed pods should be removed from the site and properly disposed of to prevent seeding. Since it is a biennial (plants flower under the right conditions, set seed, and die- usually a 2-year life cycle) preventing it from seeding is critical. Seeds may remain viable in the soil for 5 to 10 years. In addition to hand pulling, cutting, herbicide, spot burning, and prescribed fires are used to manage garlic mustard. Many animals, pollinators, and native plants such as wild geranium, Jack-in-the-pulpit, columbine, and wild ginger will be grateful for your efforts! Garlic mustard is a Restricted Noxious Weed in Minnesota, which means it is illegal to intentionally grow it or sell it, and landowners are strongly encouraged to manage it on their properties in order prevent its spread.

For more info, go to: 

Controlling Garlic Mustard Video by the City of Bloomington

https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist/garlicmustard

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/invasive-plants-of-wisconsin-garlic-mustard/

Photos by Minnesota Department of Agriculture (top- flowers and seed pods,  and bottom- infestation) and Leslie J. Mehrhoff, University of Connecticut, Bugwood.org (middle- first year seedlings)

by Louise M. Segreto

We have much to learn from Native Americans regarding our relationship with nature. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to meet with several Ojibwe and Dakota elders. All told stories about humans’ place in the natural world. They spoke quietly with a sense of reverence, respect and humility. Most Native peoples have an oral tradition, and it is through these stories that wisdom is passed from generation to generation. Additionally, art, dance, ceremony and rituals are other traditional ways of passing down knowledge and cultural norms. These traditional ways of teaching can convey a far deeper sense of spirituality than the mere written word. Listen carefully, and you will begin to understand the natural world and our place in it from a Native American Perspective.

Creation stories of many Native peoples begin with Nanabozho, the first Man-Spirit Being. It is taught that Nanabozho was the last of all living beings to be created in the world. He was introduced into a fully formed world of animals, plants, water, fire, wind, water and sky. Before Nanabozho’s arrival, the ancient world was in perfect balance and harmony. The Creator instructed Nanabozho to “walk through the world in such a way such that each step was a greeting to Mother Earth”. Nanabozho’s steps were to be gentle so as not to hurt the earth upon which he trod. Nanabozho spoke to the animals that he encountered. He learned how to survive in the world from his animal brothers and sisters. For example, wolves and foxes gave him tips on how to hunt, spiders taught him how to weave fishing nets, bears explained how to get through winter. The Creator expected that Nanabozho learn the names of all living beings. The Creator further guided Nanabozho to observe the animals and plants in order to learn both how-to live-in harmony and survive. It was in this way, that Nanabozho discovered the abundance of “gifts” that the natural world could provide to meet his needs.

It is a Native American perspective that humans play just a small role in the greater web of life. This belief fostered the belief that we, therefore, should live in kinship with other living creatures and the physical world. This perspective was foreign to early European settlers. In stark contrast, the fur traders, loggers, and white settlers brought with them a mindset of exploitation to this vast and seemingly endless bountiful land.

After these two very different cultures collided, our Native American perspective was almost totally lost. The removal and cultural genocide of Native Americans in Minnesota occurred over a relatively short period of time. Three generations of Native American children were taken from their families and sent to boarding schools where they were prohibited from speaking their Native languages or participating in traditional Native American cultural rituals, ceremonies, dances and arts. By the early 1900s, Native Americans had lost their lands through a series of dishonorable Federal treaties and discriminatory Native American federal acts & policies. The Ojibwe and Dakota lost their tribal lands and were pushed into Reservations. Compounding this tragic history, life on the reservation was hard and isolated. Poverty, combined with limited economic opportunities and broken families, led to deep social problems. Native American perspectives were largely invisible to most Minnesotans for many years.

Native Americans have a deep sense of connection to the place where they live. Even today, Native Americans will identify what Tribal Band and Reservation they are from when they introduce themselves. But this connectedness goes beyond self-identification. Traditional Native Americans are said to be “indigenous to place”. This means in large part that they possess a heightened understanding and awareness of the natural world that surrounds them. For example, Native wisdom on how to track animals is legendary. And we are just now beginning to catch up with what Native Americans have known about the medicinal value of plants. Tinctures and poultices for treating sickness have been passed on from generation to generation of Native American medicine men. Scientists now know that there is in fact a chemical communication of sorts that occurs between trees. No surprise to Native Americans, they have long known that trees talk to one another. Even how Native Americans name plants and animals reveals a sense of familiarity and connection: chipmunk berries, partridge berry, trout leaves. Compare these descriptive Native American names to the two-part clinical scientific Latin genus and species taxonomic names that Westerners use for the same plants and animals. Naming practice belies the stark contrast between Native American perspective on nature compared to Westerners.

Native Americans lived sustainably off the land for generations before the European settlers arrived. Prior to European settlement, Native Americans lived an inextricably intertwined existence with wildlife, plants, and their natural world. Native Americans’ survival depended upon animals, plants, trees and natural resources being available year after year to sustain them. There was a rhythmic seasonality to their hunter-gatherer subsistence existence. Spring meant a move to “sugar camp” to tap maple trees for syrup and sugar. Birch bark pails were fashioned and used to pour sap into large shallow log troughs hollowed from basswood trees to freeze and cooked down to produce sugar and syrup. Fall was a time to harvest “Mahnomen”- sacred wild rice. Wild rice has always been sacred to Native Americans. Its sustainable harvest was central to their survival in Minnesota. This sustainable way of living was in stark contrast to the exploitive practices of the harvest and extraction of natural resources by the fur trappers, buffalo hunters, loggers, miners, white settlers and farmers.

Prior to the arrival of settlers, food was not purchased by Native Americans from a store. Instead, it was harvested by hunting, fishing, and gathering- wild berries in summer, nuts and wild rice in the fall and maple syrup in the spring. These foods were regarded as “gifts” from Mother Earth. Making use of these “gifts” demanded a harvester’s obligation not only to receive, but also to reciprocate. An “honorable harvest” is based on accountability to both the physical and metaphysical worlds. This “take only what you need” mentality is in sharp contrast to our economic mindset “take everything you can get”.

It was not until recently that Native American culture and perspective have been rediscovered and embraced by Western culture and science. Scientists now acknowledge the complex ecological connections between all life on earth, and the important role that diversity plays in creating a stable and healthy environment. And, finally, there seems to be a growing sense of collective conscience of Native Americans’ contributions and perspectives across the United States.

We would all benefit to incorporate a Native American perspective into our relationship with nature. The next time you look up at the dark sky to star gaze, view the sky as a Native American and try to find Big Bear, Wolf or Loon. In the Spring, when out walking our Minnesota woods searching for the delicate blooms of ephemeral wildflowers, pause and admire the shapes and colors that inspired Native American weaving and beading. Walk gently upon Mother Earth. Honor and respect nature and all its inhabitants. I think that our lives would not only be richer, but the world would be a better place if we remember Native Americans and their perspectives on nature.

Miigwech! (“Thank You”) for reading!

*Note: Louise M. Segreto, the author of this article, is not Native American

Minnesota River Valley photo by Paul Raymaker

Hyland Prairie at Sunset by Paul Erdmann

At the October 1, 2020 Board of Directors meeting, the Bush Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America passed the following resolution:

Resolution of Support of Organized Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Recycling Collection Systems, solid waste source reduction, and increased recycling rates, to reduce environmental pollution

Whereas, in an Organized Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Recycling Collection Systems, waste hauling services are coordinated by a public entity through a competitive bidding process. In 2012, nearly 30 percent of the communities in Minnesota have organized MSW and recycling collection systems compared to 72 percent nationally. Whereas, Organized Collection of MSW and Recycling Collection Systems has the following advantages over “Open” Trash Collection:

• Recycling capture rates are typically higher in organized systems with standardized recycling materials collection, sorting instructions, and public education tools and message content;

• Reduced Garbage vendors travelling the same public streets dramatically reduces total fuel consumption, pollution emissions, carbon emissions, noise, risk of accidents, and wear on and degradation of the public streets;

Whereas, the National Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) organization has historically been supportive of reduction, reuse, recycling, composting, and resource recovery; Whereas, the National Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) organization has historically been supportive of the reduction of fossil fuel use, due to pollution from spills and emissions;

Whereas, the mission of the Izaak Walton League is: To conserve, restore, and promote the sustainable use and enjoyment of our natural resources, including soil, air, woods, waters, and wildlife;

Be it resolved, the Bush Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League will encourage its members to support means, such as Organized MSW and Recycling Collection Systems, solid waste source reduction, and increased recycling rates, to reduce environmental pollution, in a way that is consistent with the mission of the Izaak Walton League;

Be it resolved, the Bush Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League will publicly support means, such as Organized MSW and Recycling Collection Systems, solid waste source reduction, and increased recycling rates, to reduce environmental pollution, in a way that is consistent with the mission of the Izaak Walton League

By Louise Segreto

More tethered to home during this Covid-19 Pandemic, I have been out in the field doing daily nature observations.  I find comfort in the natural rhythms, sounds and sights of nature.  Perhaps you do too?  Here are some tips from years of trail walking and bushwacking to see more on your outdoor ramblings:

SLOW DOWN.  Walk quietly and wear soft shoes that minimize noise. Think moccasins or very soft soled shoes. Stop periodically, sit quietly and listen.  You will be amazed about how many critters will come to check you out. And, you will notice things you would likely have missed had you rushed.

LEAVE  FIDO  HOME.  This is a really hard one for me.  I have two dogs, a Newf and Aussie, that give me the betrayed “sad eye” when I head out.  But, dogs are distracting in the field. They scare and chase wild critters.  Marching through the woods with a “large predator,” AKA your dog, even if he/she is trained well, is at best problematic for nature sightings.

THINK HABITAT. Consciously think about what habitat you are headed to and what you might see. I often leave home with an intent to look for a specific species or happening that I know may be present where I am walking that day. And, while frequently I will not find what I originally set out to see, I am always pleasantly surprised to stumble upon something wonderfully unexpected!

VARY THE TIME OF DAY that you go out into the field. There is a lot going on in nature not only during dawn and dusk, but also at night.  Yes, I know mosquitos and gnats in Minnesota are annoying at night.  So, find an insect repellent that works for you. You will be rewarded with night calls, starry skies, and after-hours happenings that you have been missing.

VISIT THE SAME AREA FREQUENTLY especially in the Spring and Fall.  What you see unfold over the course of several weeks or months can be amazing.  There is nothing more beautiful than watching woodland patches of spring ephemerals bloom over several weeks, disappearing  after the tree canopy fills in and casts them in shade.  Or, seeing prairie flowers taking their turns blooming over the course of several months at a nearby restored prairie.  Knowing a place intimately, helps you know where to look and gives you a sense of phenological/seasonal changes.

USE TECHNOLOGY as it suits you. I have a love/hate relationship with technology.  It tends to take me out of the moment unless I know how to use it without futzing around.  However, I always have my iPhone handy for photos, recordings and reference.  Experiment with some phone apps that you can take into the field.  I use these three:  “PictureThis”  for plant, shrub and tree identifications (free trial); “Audubon Bird Guide”, been using for years, but there are several other bird apps you might check out and “iNaturalist” a citizen science phone app that helps with identification with whatever you find in the field, let’s you document their locations and create a list, and connects you to other naturalists.  (More about phone apps in a future article.)

I am headed out into the field after I finish editing this article!  Here’s what I have in my back pack ready to go when I dash out the door:

• *Water * Insect Repellent* Sun Block *Binocs *Small Journal and 2 Mechanical Pencils *Several Plastic Zip Lock Bags *Sunglasses *Small Magnifying Glass *Field Guide to  Mushrooms *Swiss Army Knife *Benadryl Spray *First Aid Kit *Phone/Camera
• Lastly, sharing what you find in the field with others, helps all of us stay more connected with our natural world!  Knowing about the fungi, plants, birds and animals that live in your community is the first step towards advocating towards ensuring that they be here for our children and grandchildren.  Have you seen something cool?  Let me know and we may share on Facebook, Instagram, or our newsletter.

by Louise Segreto.  Art by Ricardo Levins Morales

The tragically unjust death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month has raised a global consciousness about equity and justice. In the wake of his death, even environmental/conservation organizations like our Bush Lake Chapter Izaak Walton League have stepped back to examine what “Environmental Equity” and “Environmental Justice” mean and should look like as we move forward.

While these are not new terms, they are often confused and incorrectly used interchangeably. The fundamental conceptual principle is that we are all entitled, despite who we are, what color we happen to be, how much money we make, how old we are, or any other demographic we can be identified as belonging, to safe drinking water, healthy air quality, and a clean environment. These environmental entitlements are basic human rights. And, the Izaak Walton League (“IWL”) has been proudly involved in Environmental Equity issues and Environmental Justice long before these terms were even used. The IWL has been doing Environmental Justice work years before it came to be referred to as a social movement.

What is the difference between “Environmental Equity” and “Environmental Justice”?

“Environmental Equity” refers to how environmental risks are distributed across diverse population groups and how our policies create or respond to the equitable or unequal distribution of environmental risk. There are many different types of equity, but in recent months we have been focused on inequities that affect racial minorities and low-income populations. Similarly, environmental risks can be wide ranging from broader environmental disasters such as flooding, wildfires, mudslides caused by climate change to more localized environmental hazards such as contaminated water from industrial agriculture or factory effluent pollution, to changes in hunting and fishing regulations that disproportionately affect a disadvantaged northern Minnesota Native American Tribe. The simple fact of the matter is that people that lack economic power or political clout usually bear the brunt of carrying the risks of environmental downsides associated with industrial and capitalistic “progress”.

The term “Environmental Justice” refers to the actions and activism necessary to highlight the inequalities in environmental risk distribution across populations and pave the way to leveling the playing field in achieving environmental equity. Environmental Justice activism can take many forms. For example, advocating for proper oversight and review of Federal, State and local agencies, ensuring proper permitting and licensing, and advocating for changes in rules, regulations and statutes are different strategies. Ideally, Environmental Equity is the outcome of Environmental Justice.

But, striving for Environmental Equity & Environmental Justice are just lofty aspirational words, unless we really focus on these concepts and integrate them into every aspect of our lives and work. As members of the Bush Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League, let us all pause and think what each of us might do to contribute to achieving Environmental Equity through our work in Environmental Justice today and in years to come.

by John Crampton

The Bush Lake Izaak Walton League’s 2020 Watershed and Climate Summit on Sat. March 7th at Normandale College was a terrific success.  Below are descriptions and links to the videos of the presentations.

Grant & Dawn Breitkreutz of Stoney Creek Farm near Redwood Falls presented Growing a Resilient Farm & Ranch Ecosystem, about using cover crops, rotational grazing and no-till to restore the health of their soils, sequester carbon and limit storm water run-off while dramatically cutting costs.

Video

Holly Hatlewick of the Renville County Soil and Water Conservation District did a Soil Health Demonstration of how healthy soils work to hold nutrients, sequester carbon, and prevent run-off and flooding.

Video

Duane Hovorka, Agriculture Program Director, National Izaak Walton League talked about Leveraging Federal Dollars to Promote Soil Health in Minnesota.

Video

All the morning presenters held a free-wheeling Q and A on the basics of soil health and regenerative farming as a solution to flooding, soil loss and climate change. Discussion: How Functioning Ecosystems Are Providing Climate Solutions

Video 

Lissa Pawlisch of CERTs (Clean Energy Resource Teams) talked about the explosive growth of Renewable Energy in Minnesota including many examples form farming and grazing operations statewide.

Video

Jukka Kukkonen of the MN EV Owners Association and Switch2Electric charted the dramatic growth of Electric Vehicles, EV Chargers and Clean Car Standards in our state.

Video

The session wrapped up with presentations by Chris Conry of the 100% Campaign and Rep. Patty Acomb (D-Minnetonka) of the MN House Climate Caucus on the drive to pass 100% Clean Energy in Minnesota by 2050 in the 2020 or 2021 Minnesota Legislature. This crucial effort has been stalled by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Video

Thanks to our partners at CURE (Clean Up Our River Environment) and the Minnesota Soil Health Coalition. Thanks to the Bush Lake volunteers including Jill Crafton, John Crampton, Paul Erdmann, Ben Johnson, Rick Wheeler, Paul Raymaker, John Servais, Jim Roen, Pdon Pinkham, Gregg Thompson and Patrick O’Leary. You were awesome! A special thanks to all of our presenters and to everyone that attended.

The Bush Lake Ikes plan to work with other chapter and environmental groups around the state to put on more in-depth education in all areas of agriculture, timber, mining, renewable energy, clean cars and civic/corporate sustainability.  

By Louise Segreto, Chapter Historian

Editorials can be powerful tools for environmental advocacy. We all have strong opinions on environmental issues and policy, but when was the last time you wrote an editorial to a newspaper or on-line news service and got it published? Now is the time to step out of your comfort zone on a topic or issue that you are impassioned about and spark a conversation in a public forum.

Here are 7 tips for writing editorials from Andrew Rosenthal, former New York Times Editorial Page Editor from 1997-2016:

1. Take a Clear Position. Choose an issue/topic that you have a strong opinion about. Know what you want to say and say it. Be bold in your declaration. You are stating your opinion and trying to persuade others to see the issue from your perspective. Capture your readers’ interest by opening with something that makes them want to read more. Be timely and current with the topic you chose to write about.

2. Be Concise. Laser in on what you want to get out. Get rid of fluff, useless information and archaic language. Anticipate “yeah but” arguments and preemptively refute them. Limit your editorial to 500 words or less. Consider your audience in crafting your writing. Remember that most people’s attention spans are very short. Further, there is limited space allocated to an editorial page.

3. Either Propose a Solution to a Specific Problem or Express a Clear Opinion to an Issue. These are the two most published types of editorials.

4. Research Your Facts. You must prove up your claims and position with credible sources. Triple check your facts. There is nothing that will undermine your writing more than facts that are wrong.

5. Good Writing. Editorials do not need to be in overly formal language, but there is no excuse for poor grammar, misspelling, run-on sentences, or misused punctuation. Do not use slang. Use examples and analogies to support your position. And, avoid writing in the first person; try not to use “I” in stating your opinion.

6. Get an Editor. Every writer needs an editor. Give your editorial to someone you trust to read. Take their suggestions and criticisms to heart.

7. Be Prepared for a Response. A well-thought-out editorial is bound to solicit a response and discussion. So, be ready to defend your position in a respectful and positive way. There is never a reason to be rude. And, insults are counter-productive and not at all persuasive.

The biggest challenge of writing a great editorial is compressing your thoughts into a persuasive argument that others can easily understand. Editorial writing is not for shrinking violets! Most editorial editors require that writers identify themselves by name and provide address and contact information. And, depending on the publication, you may or may not have the ability to submit an image or a headline for your editorial.

The next time you find yourself pontificating to your friends and family about an environmental or climate change related issue, instead consider sitting down and writing an editorial. Well-reasoned and respectful discussions about how to solve complex environmental problems that confront our world are the first step towards solving them. Why not write an editorial and be part of the solution? Not ready to write an editorial? Contact your elected representatives on current important issues that are important to you. They are there for you and need to hear from their constituents.

*This page will be updated as new items are added.  Please check back regularly.*

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Bloomington is blessed with many parks and open spaces. They City is creating a new Master Plan for the parks. The purpose of the Park System Master Plan is to establish a clear, 20-year vision for the Bloomington park, trail, recreation, and open space systems. There are nearly 9,000 acres of parkland and open space in Bloomington, of which 3,882 acres are City-owned. Nearly 36% of the City’s 38.3 square miles is parkland or open space. 

The Bush Lake Chapter will be advocating for the following.  If you support these items, click on the link above and send in your comments:

Parks and Open Space in General

Overall, the City needs to provide more funding for restoration and wildlife habitat. Given all of our parks and open spaces, wouldn't it be great if we had a Natural Resources Manager to oversee all of this, and paid staff committed to natural resources, similar to what Minnetonka and other cities have?  The City needs to provide funding for ecological restoration and maintenance. There's also many areas of turf that are not needed/not used that could be converted to habitat. 

Bush Lake Area

Bush Lake and its surrounding lands and waters are still in good shape, others need a lot of work.  The area is a critically important piece of habitat given its location by Hyland and Tierney's Woods and Anderson Lake. We have documented some rare species in the area- the endangered rusty patched bumblebee, state threatened kittentails, as well as prairie mimosa (Illinois bundleflower, possibly a Hennepin County record), American lotus, and red headed woodpecker to name a few.

Bush Lake is threatened by the spread of invasive species such as Eurasian water milfoil, curly leaf pondweed, and hybrid and narrow-leaved cattail.  More should be done to manage these species and to prevent the introduction of zebra mussels into the lake.

The area north of the Chapter and East Bay pond is former oak savanna habitat with several ponds scattered throughout and trails running through it.  This 17 acres of City land is overrun with buckthorn.  The City should seek grants and partner with the Bush Lake Chapter Izaak Walton League to restore this area for wildlife and to increase the area's conservation corridor.

The City should create better turtle nesting habitat, both on the public beach as well as on the west side of Bush Lake.  Three Rivers Park District has done similar work in parks they manage.  

The City and Watershed District need to improve the maintenance that is being done around the Bush Lake vegetative buffer in order to control invasive plants, expand native plants, improve aesthetics and to protect water quality.

Ikes Creek and Kelly Farm

Did you know a coldwater stream comes bubbling out of the ground, not far from the Mall of America?  And thanks to the Izaak Walton League and others, it is the only stream left in Hennepin County known to support trout.  Officially called "Unnamed Creek" is has been known as Ikes Creek since the 1940s when Ike volunteers reared fish in the nearby Bass Ponds to repopulate area lakes and rivers with game fish that had been lost to pollution, over-fishing, and industrialization. 

Several years ago, the City, Great River Greening, and volunteers did restoration work in the area- removing buckthorn and seeding native species.  Little to no follow up was done, and the area quickly reverted to buckthorn, garlic mustard, and other invasive species.  Maintenance is critical the first 3-5 years after restoration to manage the invasive seedbank and let natives establish. A 5-10 year management plan that focuses on this unique resource should be created and enacted.  Collaborate/partner with the USFWS.

Nearby, the last farm in Bloomington still operates.  This is also the largest remaining open space within the City.  It is currently for sale. Should the property sell, the City should consider preserving at least a portion of the area as a City park- starting with the area closest to the bluff and National Wildlife Refuge.  Preserving land in this highly developed area will be important for both people and wildlife in the future.

Normandale Lake area

Lots of money and attention has been focused on Normandale Lake the last few years- with a City and Watershed project that brought down the lake in an attempt to improve the water quality and aquatic vegetation in this once a wetland-now shallow lake.  Little to no attention is paid to the land surrounding the lake which is overrun by invasive species or is turf grass.  Hundreds of people walk around the lake daily.  It could be a great example of pollinator and wildlife habitat in an urban area.  Buckthorn was removed from areas north of the lake a few years ago, but again- little to no maintenance was done and it is reverting to buckthorn.  The City and Watershed District should consider partnering on restoring the land around Normandale lake, for both people and wildlife.