News

From storm drain markers to photo contests, new chair brings new ideas to the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District

Edina, Minn. – Geoffrey Nash, Edina, was recently elected chair of the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Citizen's Advisory Committee (CAC). He brings his enthusiasm and commitment to the volunteer committee that serves as the eyes and ears for the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District Board of Managers. Members of the CAC look out for issues of pollution or erosion within the Watershed District and then report to the managers. They help educate the public on water issues. They assist with events and activities the Watershed District holds throughout the year, such as volunteering at environmental fairs at local schools, coordinating an annual field trip, and staffing a booth at the annual meeting of the Minnesota Association of Watershed Districts. CAC members also help with publications, and were instrumental in designing and printing a map of the watershed in 1999.

"The map has been essential in helping us educate the public. It's almost impossible to talk about the watershed and explain what it is without showing a map of the creek and the physical boundaries of the watershed, which essentially are all the high points in the area that drain into one spot," Nash comments. 

CAC meetings serve as a forum for District residents to bring ideas. "Our function is to facilitate individuals to help protect the watershed. We're always open for suggestions for new issues to bring before the board, and we are always looking for new volunteer members of the CAC. Most importantly, we want to be responsive to residents' concerns," says Nash. 

Nash started attending CAC meetings about four years ago because he was looking for opportunities to volunteer in local government. As a geologist who has been working in environmental consulting for the past 15 years, the Watershed District was a "natural" choice for him. 

This spring, Nine Mile Creek Watershed District will start a project of marking the storm drains within the watershed, and Nash is looking forward to this project. "This is an effort to raise awareness about surface water issues. People don't even realize that all the water from rain storms and melted snow, with all the pollution, sand and salt from street surfaces, goes right into our watershed, our wetlands and the creek," says Nash.

The Watershed has purchased storm drain markers that say, " No dumping – drains to Nine Mile Creek," and the Watershed will recruit volunteers, including Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, to apply the storm drain markers in various neighborhoods throughout the Watershed. Earth Day on April 22nd will be the first day storm drain markers are applied. The project will continue throughout the spring and summer.

"We want the public to know that everything flows downstream and eventually ends up in the Minnesota and the Mississippi Rivers. When we take care of the water in our watershed, we are helping our neighbors downstream. It's also about personal choices, such as using phosphorus-free fertilizer and preventing oil spills from getting into the storm drains," Nash notes. The storm drain marker project will help people remember this, and if they see garbage near their local storm drain they might clean it up. 

Water has always been an important issue for Nash. Minnesota has a great outdoors heritage, and he is trying to build stewardship and appreciation of the environment in his three children. From downhill skiing at Highland Park near Bush Lake, to canoeing and catching a few Sunnies at Lake Cornelia, Nash encourages his kids to enjoy the outdoors. Nash has lived in Edina for 11 years. He received a bachelor's degree in geology from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and an MBA from Boston University.

Residents of the Watershed District are invited to attend the Board of Managers' regular meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Edina City Hall in the City Council Chambers. Any resident interested in water issues may attend the Citizen's Advisory Committee meetings also on the third Wednesday of each month, at 6:30 p.m. at the same location. For more information, call Geoff Nash at 952-925-5119. You may also pick up an annual newsletter at your City Hall or your library. The new website, www.ninemilecreek.org, will be launched the week of March 4th. 

As part of launching the website, the Watershed District will hold a seasonal photo contest for anyone interested in participating. Starting March 4th, Nine Mile Creek will accept winter photos. The winner will receive a prize and his/her photo will be placed on the website. Send original photos to Lexicon Communications, 6990 Redwing Lane, Chanhassen, MN 55317. The only criteria are that the photos are original winter scenes of Nine Mile Creek or Nine Mile Creek Watershed District. They can be color or black and white. For more information, see the website.

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