(Updated 4/15/2016) The Anoka County Board Of Commissioners has proclaimed April 12 – April 18, 2015 as Volunteer Recognition Week In Anoka County.  Volunteers Make Citizen Science Work (EPA YouTube; 2:12).

Anoka County communities have established water resource management programs with their watershed management organization or a watershed district. The community’s surface water management program deals with land runoff (“nonpoint” source) water pollution. Nonpoint sources of pollution are from many everyday activities and actions of people. These include applying fertilizer or pesticides to lawns or gardens in an amount that exceeds what the plants can use, plowing an agricultural field such that erosion results, blowing grass clippings into streets, gutters and storm sewers. All these add up to major nonpoint source pollution loading of nearby ditches, wetlands, creeks, lakes and groundwater.

Make a difference in your community by volunteering:

• Anoka County Master Gardeners (763-755-1280) learn and share your knowledge
• Anoka County Parks & Recreation join the volunteer team
• Adopt-A-Boat Launch at an Anoka County Park facility
• Anoka County Master Recycler/Composter email or call 763-323-5730
• Anoka Conservation District (763-434-2030) learn about conservation opportunities
• Coon Creek Watershed District (763-755-0975) education & protection opportunities
• Rice Creek Watershed District (763-398-3070) water quality monitoring
• Become a Minnesota Master Naturalist leader (UofM & MN Dept of Natural Resources)
• Become a Lake Level Monitor volunteer 651-296-6157 (MN Dept of Natural Resources)
• Become a lake or stream Water Quality Monitor  (MN Pollution Control Agency)
• Adopt a River or a section of a stream, lake, wetland or ditch (MN DNR)

Check out the Anoka County Volunteer Alliance (brochure) for more volunteer opportunities.