Advanced street sweeping studies are being completed by ACD staff to identify locations where strategically increasing the frequency of sweeping would result in the greatest water quality benefits to the Rum and Mississippi rivers. The highest priority areas for this effort are typically those with limited existing stormwater treatment and/or high roadside tree canopy cover, both of which contribute to increased pollutant loads in stormwater. 

The photo above shows a street sweeping prioritization map produced through the enhanced street sweeping analysis for the City of St. Francis; green indicates the highest priority streets, and red indicates the lowest, for achieving water quality improvements to the Rum River. These analyses are also being completed for portions of Ramsey, Andover, and Anoka. Detailed reports and recommendations will be provided to these cities upon the completion of these studies. For more information contact Breanna Keith, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

At Soderville Park in Ham Lake, Minnesota, staff from the Anoka Conservation District (ACD) recently tested a new method for disposing of invasive buckthorn. Instead of creating smoky burn piles, they used a biochar kiln called the Ring of Fire.

The Ring of Fire is a type of biochar kiln designed to burn organic material (biomass)—such as wood and plant debris—in a low-oxygen, high-temperature environment. Compared to traditional burn piles, this process is more efficient and significantly reduces smoke, emissions, and environmental impact.

Traditional burn piles turn biomass into ash, which can generate large amounts of smoke, damage soils, and increase erosion. They also leave burn scars on the landscape that can persist for years, creating disturbed areas where invasive species may spread more easily.

How the Ring of Fire Works

The Ring of Fire works differently. The kiln is packed tightly with sticks and branches and then lit from the top. The flame at the top consumes oxygen from above, while the biomass inside the kiln is superheated with radiant heat. Instead of burning completely to ash, the material below undergoes a process called pyrolysis, in which the heated biomass is transformed into biochar—a stable, carbon-rich material similar to charcoal. 

When biochar is incorporated into the soil, that carbon can remain stored for hundreds to thousands of years, effectively locking atmospheric carbon into the ground rather than releasing it back into the atmosphere.

Biochar also provides ecological benefits for the soil. Its porous structure can bind excess nutrients such as nitrates and phosphates, reducing their availability and often favoring invasive plants. By capturing these nutrients, biochar can help slow the spread of invasive species that thrive in nutrient-rich environments.

Restoration Benefits at Soderville Park

At Soderville Park, the Ring of Fire also improved safety during the burning process. Since the fire's heat is at the top of the kiln, using the kiln prevents flames from heating the underlying peat soils, which can smolder underground if ignited.

After the burn, the biochar was spread in areas with high weed pressure. By absorbing excess nutrients in these soils, the biochar may give native plants—many of which are adapted to lower-nutrient conditions—a competitive advantage over invasive species.

By turning buckthorn piles into biochar, the Ring of Fire offers a creative way to support restoration goals while reducing smoke, protecting soils, and storing carbon.

- Article and photos by Lauren Schmeltzer

Each year, ACD staff provide technical assistance for projects focused on ecological resources, surface water, groundwater, and soils throughout Anoka County. This work includes ecological projects such as habitat enhancement and critical-area plantings; surface-water projects such as lakeshore improvements, rain gardens, and swales; groundwater protection through well sealing and septic-system upgrades; and soil-related practices such as cover cropping. These projects help enhance habitat, protect water quality, and support healthy natural systems.

Assistance typically begins with a site consultation. This includes a conversation with the landowner, a review of maps and available information about the property, and a site visit to walk the property and discuss options. If a project moves forward, ACD can assist with planning and design, provide installation oversight, and offer guidance on long-term maintenance. These efforts are made possible through collaboration with landowners and partner organizations. The table below summarizes the technical assistance provided by ACD staff in 2025. 

If you have a conservation question or are interested in exploring options for your property, ACD staff are available to help! We look forward to continuing this work in 2026 and supporting positive environmental outcomes throughout Anoka County. For more information, contact Mitch Haustein, Stormwater & Shoreland Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Construction has concluded for nine lakeshore stabilization projects on the Sunrise Chain of Lakes: four on Martin Lake, three on Linwood Lake, and two on Coon Lake. Project locations were selected in 2024 based on the property's need for restoration and the anticipated water-quality benefits the project would deliver. Detailed designs were compiled, and three primary bioengineering approaches were applied. 

Funding for these projects was through a Clean Water Fund grant, the Sunrise River Watershed Management Organization, Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Aid, and landowner match. For more information contact Breanna Keith, Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

This ACD video showcases a successfully completed rain garden that was built on a city outlot in St. Francis, MN. This rain garden was funded through the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, with additional funds from the Upper Rum River Watershed Management Organization. The City of St. Francis will provide project maintenance. This video combines real footage, motion graphics, and 3D animation to showcase the entire construction process and illustrate the process of building a rain garden with an underdrain system. The underdrain system is largely hidden underground, so this video is intended to help inform on what a underdrain system may look like. For more information contact Brian Clark, Natural Resource Technician, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Addressing eroding slopes along an undeveloped portion of the Martin Lake shoreline required a creative stabilization solution. Sandy soils, wave action (increasing with boat activity), and fluctuating water levels cumulatively drove soil loading to the lake and the gradual encroachment of the shoreline toward the adjacent road. However, site access and workable land upslope was limited, and preserving mature trees and other natural shoreline elements was a priority. To achieve this, sections of stacked logs were anchored to the base of the shoreline along critical eroding areas. 

The lower logs act as a barrier to prevent waves from washing out soil at the base of the slope, and the upper logs trap the sandy soil falling from behind – rebuilding the eroded voids and creating a more stable slope within which vegetation can become re-established. At the same time, wildlife such as nesting turtles can still access these areas. ACD staff will continue monitoring this site in the coming years to assess its long-term effectiveness in protecting the shoreline. For more information contact Breanna Keith,Water Resource Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ACD staff provide technical assistance for a wide-variety of projects each year. Many of the requests for assistance come directly from landowners interested in improving natural resources on their individual properties. Technical assistance is also provided for projects in collaboration with county, city, and watershed entity partners. The table below summarizes 2023 technical assistance provided by ACD staff. 

Assistance usually begins with a site consultation. Consultations typically include a conversation with the landowner, desktop review of the site using GIS mapping software and available data sets, and a site visit to discuss options. If the landowner is interested in pursuing a project, ACD can provide design and installation oversight services. Maintenance guidance is also provided for previously installed projects.

For more information contact Mitch Haustein, Stormwater & Shoreline Specialist, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Minnesota is rich in wetlands which provide numerous benefits such as flood mitigation, groundwater recharge, water quality improvement, recreation, and high-quality habitat for a wide variety of fish and wildlife species. However, many wetlands exist in a degraded state due to decades of human disturbances such as drainage and filling to increase usable land for agriculture and urban development.

Recognizing their importance, many federal, state, and local agencies have developed programs to provide technical expertise and funding for wetland restoration projects. The goal of wetland restoration is to return a wetland to its natural functions, and the nature of each project depends on the wetland's unique location, hydrology, soils, vegetation, and impacts (historic and current).

Restoring wetlands on your property adds to its ecological value and can often be financially beneficial. Understanding your options can be complicated, which is why ACD – on behalf of, and with funding from, the Rum River Watershed Partnership – created a new wetland restoration brochure. In it, you will find information on benefits, approaches, processes, and funding options common for wetland restoration projects. Click here to access the brochure below.

Anoka County Residents: ACD currently has funding to support wetland restorations benefitting the Rum River! If you live near the Rum River, believe that you have impacted wetlands on your property, and are interested in restoring them, please contact Breanna Keith, Water Resources Technician, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to learn more.