News & Insights

The Minnesota DNR has published a 60-day public comment period for proposed updates to the Public Waters Inventory (PWI) in Brown, Chisago, Crow Wing, and Douglas counties, and has notified officials in Carver, Chippewa, Grant, and Pine counties that updates are beginning there as well. The PWI is the legal tool that determines which lakes, wetlands, and streams qualify as "public waters" under Minnesota law — and which therefore carry the full weight of state protections and permitting requirements. How the PWI tool is used in these four counties will set a precedent for how the rest of the state will be treated.

Conservation Minnesota has long championed more sustainable biofuel production in our state—and the 2026 legislative session delivered a meaningful step forward. 

Each spring, Conservation Minnesota and GreenStep Cities and Tribal Nations work together to host a tour for volunteer city commissioners and staff whose focus is on environment, sustainability, energy, parks, and trails. Earlier this month, we gathered at the Capitol Region Watershed District Learning Center in St. Paul to tour the traveling We Are Water exhibit and get a firsthand look at their LEED Gold certified building. 

As the 2025-26 school year comes to a close, we’re excited to announce the results for this year’s Conservation Crew Awards. For the first time, our People’s Choice Award, was open to voting by the public. 

The Minnesota Legislature must act this session or lead pipe removal programs could end. On May 6th, legislative and trade leaders, members of the Coalition of Greater MN Cities, and allies held a press conference to explain the stakes.

The Minnesota Senate's energy omnibus bill brings Minnesota closer to meeting our 2040 clean energy standard by using the Renewable Development Account to support efforts in electrification and decarbonization of the energy sector. That's just one of the reasons we support it. 

The Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council (LSOHC) announced its annual Call for Funding Request from the Outdoor Heritage Fund, with approximately $160 million available in grants for statewide and metro-area projects.

The US Senate just voted to overturn the 20-year mining ban in the Boundary Waters watershed. But this isn't the end of the story. 

This year’s winners demonstrate the positive impact local governments can have at home and beyond their borders, whether that’s reinvesting in accessible playgrounds that strengthen community connection or raising awareness about threats to our natural resources. We hope these stories encourage others to take bold action at the local level and beyond. 

We received more than 6,300 postcards to Minnesota legislators, asking them to keep Minnesota's promise of 100% clean energy by 2040. Our policy associate, James Lehner, delivered those messages in person at the Capitol.