Roger Svendsen Champions Cigarette Litter Clean-Ups

By Sage Passi

Roger Svendsen has been picking up cigarette butts around Lake Phalen for almost a decade. He brought his stash to Lake Phalen for Waterfest this year to call attention to the litter issue.

 

Roger Svendsen keeps a log count of every cigarette butt he’s picked up for the past nine years in the Phalen/Round Lake area. He has a regular beat and walks around these lakes each day. His love of Lake Phalen and the natural areas in the park are a strong driving force behind his commitment to keeping this park clean.

 

 

Roger Svendsen walks around Lake Phalen every day, no matter what season.

One late May morning this spring, while I was out at Keller Creek near Round Lake helping classes during our restoration efforts, I spied Roger coming down the paved path. I decided to seize the moment and take some time to accompany him on his route to get a closer look at what has become Roger’s passion for almost a decade. As we proceeded on our walk, I asked him how he first got started on this mission.

He told me that he was discussing litter problems in the park with some park staff years ago and asked them if they picked up cigarette butts during their rounds. “We’re paid by the hour,” they told me. “There isn’t enough time in the day or money to do it.” This was the prompt that drew him into taking on this issue with full gusto.




I ran into Roger near Keller Creek while he was on his “beat”.




Roger searches for cigarette butts in a storm drain
emptying near Round Lake.

As we walked along the path, Roger soon deviated from the sidewalk and headed down some brushy, overgrown trails to several stormwater outfalls and storm drains hidden back in the woods.

 







Roger determined that this outfall empties run-off from nearby streets
like Larpenteur Avenue into Round Lake and then into Lake Phalen.
It’s one of many regular stops along his beat.



Roger at the inlet to Round Lake

 
As Roger bent down with a stick to push a cigarette butt closer to him that was floating in the murky detritus near one of these drains, I realized that this was both a healthy obsession and a commitment with some physical demands.

No cigarette butt goes undetected!

“People have suggested that I get one of those trash grabbers so I don’t have to bend down to pick up the cigarettes, but I figured out that if I bend over to pick them up, I stay much more limber. “

At age 73, Roger has acquired a fair amount of notoriety for his role in cleaning up Lake Phalen. He’s been the subject of multiple local newspaper stories and videos. His take on his public image was summed up in this comment,

“My daughter once asked me, “How would you like being known as the daughter of the Cigarette Butt Guy?” I told her that I figure at my age, I don’t think it matters if I am crazy!”

As we continued our stroll around the park, I could tell that this daily walk has multiple benefits for both Roger and the community. Walking around the lakes each day provides him with the opportunity to be immersed in the beauty of the natural world and keep fit. But it also allows him to stay connected to a life tied to helping people with chemical addictions. Roger tells me he worked in the field of chemical addiction for many years before he retired.

The puzzle pieces were starting to fit together.

Roger’s walks provide opportunities for him to experience both “Beauty and the Beast”. His bridge view in Phalen Park frames the “island” where Roger spends time each week looking for cigarette butt litter.

 
As we got closer to the “island” in Phalen Park, Roger relayed a rather troubling fact that on more than one occasion he has picked up as many as 2,000-3,000 cigarette butts on the island in one visit.

He dedicates certain days to focus on parts of the park, including parking lots.

Hearing this has prompted me to contemplate some of the statistics and research I have been digging out about cigarette butt pollution since getting acquainted with Roger. Here are some facts I have learned;

The Scoop on Cigarette Butt Litter

 

• 5.6 trillion cigarettes are sold globally every year; 360 billion are sold annually in the United States.
• Butt waste is toxic: Cigarette butts leach organic chemicals and heavy metals (including lead, chromium, and arsenic) into the water and the environment that are toxic to fresh and salt-water fish. 
• A 2009 study found that the chemicals in a single filtered cigarette butt have the ability to kill half the fish living in a 1-liter container of water. They are poisonous when ingested by children and other living organisms. 
• Whatever their direct health impact on or benefit to smokers, cigarette filters pose a serious litter and toxic waste disposal problem. Cellulose acetate is photodegradable but not bio-degradable. Although ultraviolet rays from the sun will eventually break the filter into smaller pieces under ideal environmental conditions, the source material never disappears; it essentially becomes diluted in water or soil.
• In a review of litter cleanup project reports, the Keep America Beautiful campaign reported that cigarette butts comprise from 25 to 50 percent of all collected litter items from roadways and streets.
• The overall littering rate for cigarette butts is 65%, and tobacco products comprise 38% of all U.S. roadway litter. 
• Cigarette butt littering is often associated with the physical environment (38%), i.e. for every additional ash receptacle, the littering rate for cigarette butts decreases by 9%. Cigarette butt littering is also attributable to individual motivations; for example, 77% of individuals in a survey stated they did not consider cigarette butts as litter.

  

Tallying the Cigarette Litter in Phalen Park
 

Roger Svendsen with his stash of cigarette butts at WaterFest 2017

I decided to invite Roger to have a display at WaterFest this year about his stewardship efforts. He told me he stores the cigarette butts he has collected over the years along in boxes in his garage. When he showed up at WaterFest, he lugged the boxes he has accumulated full of cigarette butts up to the Pavilion and placed this shocking amount of litter at one of the entrances.

As visitors walked by, they experienced a rude awakening with the potent aroma of tobacco. It made quite an impact. His tally revealed he has picked up 481,929 butts in nine years. He told me his goal is half a million butts which means he’s close to reaching his goal. That’s quite a remarkable achievement.

We’d like to thank Roger for his awesome dedication to this cause! Imagine the impacts on our treasured lakes if he hadn’t taken on this mission!

-------------------------------------------------------

References
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, ISSN 1660-4601
www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph

Keep America Beautiful
https://www.kab.org/cigarette-litter-prevention/problem-and-facts

Welcome Anna! Welcome back Zola!

Anna Beining - Natural Resources Intern

I am a student at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities studying environmental science and just finished up my junior year. I grew up in eastern Wisconsin on the shores of Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, surrounded by farms and cows. My love of horses and preserving the land that I could bring my horse to has opened my eyes to the world of soil and water conservation and preservation.  

Through my internship here at the Watershed District, I hope to expand my knowledge and gain valuable experiences that will help me define my path after graduation. 

In my spare time I enjoy petting people’s dogs, hugging red pines, riding horses, running and getting lost in the woods.
 

Zola Pineles - District Inspector Intern

Faithful Ripple Effect followers will recognize this face! Zola Pineles has returned as an intern for her third year with the Watershed District.

Trading in a double-XL, hi-visibility, orange Keller Golf Course polo for steel toe boots and a bright white hard hat, this summer will be Zola’s first year away from prairies and woodlands in five years.

A full-time student and "oldest undergrad ever" at the University of Minnesota, Zola has experience with the Conservation Corps of Minnesota and Iowa, the City of St. Paul Natural Resources Department, and Meritage, a Brasserie in St. Paul.

Outside of being an intern, Zola spends her time hiking with her dog Khloe, cleaning Khloe’s droppings, feeding Khloe, and making sure her dog, Khloe, is always attended to. She also enjoys going to breweries and cabins with friends, photography and biking.

So, if you see Zola around, give a wave! She is seventy percent likely to notice and wave back.

Summer Fun!

 Summer Family Pond Dipping

 

You are invited to a FREE family friendly event! We will dip nets into the water to catch a closer look at the creatures that live in the lake and what they tell us about how clean our water is. Please meet at the pavilion, dock or pier at each park. Wear outdoor play attire and be prepared to take an easy hike along paved trails.

• Forest Lake (Arts in the Park) Lakeside Park – June 20 @ 5-8 p.m. 
• Edgewater Park in Woodbury – June 27 @ 6:30 p.m.
• Autumn Hills Park in Oak Park Heights – July 6 @ 6:30 p.m.
• Tanners Lake in Oakdale – July 12 @ 6:30 p.m.
• Lions Park in Saint Paul Park – July 18 @ 6:30 p.m.
• Long Lake in Stillwater – July 24 @ 6:30 p.m.
• Pine Tree Pond in Cottage Grove - July 26 @ 6:30 p.m.

Youth must be accompanied by an adult. More details at www.mnwcd.org/events, email Jenn Radtke or call 651-330-8220 x44.

The Summer Family Pond Dipping is co-sponsored EMWREP and RWMWD.

Tamarack Nature Preserve Tour

Explore a little known natural area unique to Woodbury and to the Twin Cities metro. 

Join the City of Woodbury and the Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District on Wednesday, July 19th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. for a free, guided walking tour of the Tamarack Nature Preserve.

 

The Tamarack Nature Preserve has more than 150 acres providing home to plants and trees that are normally found only in northern Minnesota. Learn about the park’s history, geology, unique blend of ecosystems and diversity of plants.

Meet at the Tamarack Nature Preserve parking lot (1825 Tower Drive) at 6:30 pm. Then join the group on a guided walking tour on the boardwalk as plant ecologists answer questions and point out the diversity of unique bog flowers and trees.

 

There will be Tamarack Swamp BINGO, with prizes. Two tours will be leaving the parking lot 6:40 pm: one tour will be about 30-45 minutes and the other will return to the parking lot by 8:30 pm.

Pre-registration required. Call Deb at 651-792-7959 or e-mail to deb.barnes@rwmwd.org by 4:30 p.m. July 12. This event is free of charge. Participants of all ages are welcome.

Find the event on Facebook (Tamarack Nature Preserve Tour) to stay in touch with updates and weather.

Phalen Stewards Promote Adopt-A-Drain Program in St. Paul

By Sage Passi

Each storm drain adoptee receives a lawn sign.

Master Water Stewards, Bill Cranford, Rachel Hanks and Phyllis Webster are test driving the Adopt-a-Drain program in a targeted East St. Paul neighborhood as their capstone project this spring. The location they are focusing on is an area near Lake Phalen that Bill and Rachel live in called the Phalen Heights neighborhood, bordered by Maryland Avenue, Arcade Street and Phalen Lake Park in the Phalen Lake sub-watershed.




The targeted Adopt-A-Drain Lake Phalen Neighborhood

  

The Adopt-A-Drain program invites residents to "adopt" a drain by choosing one or more storm drains near their house and commit to clearing leaves and trash from it regularly. They receive a welcome packet once they sign up online and a sign to post in their yard that advertises the program. They are asked to report on their clean-up actions via postcard or email so their efforts can be documented. Residents can sign up online at adopt-a-drain.org.

Photo credit: Cleanwatermn.org

The Phalen team is encouraged by the responses they have already received since city posts on Facebook and door knockers were distributed in the neighborhood.


In mid-April, these three Master Water Stewards, along with Capitol Region Master Water Steward Chris Kunz and neighborhood volunteer Stuart Knapmiller, delivered door hangers to 735 households to advertise the program.


The response was immediate. By the next day, nine people had signed up to adopt drains in the targeted area. Other "adoptees" continue to pop up online.







The team is also organizing two informational meetings at First Covenant Church, 1280 Arcade Street in St. Paul, on May 4 from 7-8 PM, to promote the program and provide information for the neighborhood and the general public about rain gardens, other BMPs and sustainable lawn care practices. They sent postcard invitations to the 735 residents in the area for these events.


Rachel reports that as of April 22, forty-one storm drains have by adopted by twenty-four households in their targeted area with 26 residents adopting 47 drains in other areas in our watershed since the city did their advertising push on Facebook in early April.

They are also planning several neighborhood group storm drain clean-up events by Phalen residents in the coming months.




The map on the city of St. Paul's website shows where drains have been adopted-to-date. The Center for Global and Environmental Education (CGEE) at Hamline University has been working with Watershed Partners for several years to develop the Adopt-a-Drain program to provide a collaborative platform for water-focused organizations in order to engage citizens in preventing run-off pollution and to measure the impact of their actions. The program has been piloted in a number of neighborhoods in St. Paul, including the Como Lake area and is expanding to the Lake McCarrons neighborhood in Roseville this spring. The program has also been piloted in Minneapolis, where it is growing there as well.

Nearly six hundred residents in St. Paul have signed up to be a part of this initiative to reduce pollution from going into the Mississippi River and local lakes in the first year and a half. The role of CGEE at Hamline University is to do the overall administering of the program, customizing and sending out packets in the mail to people who sign up online, updating the database, answering emails sent to Adopt-a-Drain, sending reminder emails to participants twice a year, keeping records and being responsible for program reporting and evaluation.

This powerhouse team of Master Water Stewards in our watershed are not novices in the realm of community organizing.

• Bill Cranford and Rachel Hanks have been long-time stewards and mentors on the East Side of St. Paul since 1996.
• Bill has a strong connection to Urban Roots, an organization that engages thousands of youth in education, training and work projects that provides service to the community, develops young leaders and improves the quality of food and our environment.
• Bill and Rachel's interest in protecting Lake Phalen and encouraging the restoration of native habitats led them to build a rain garden and incorporate native plants in their yard and garden that received a LEAP Award in 2011.
• Bill has been instrumental in shepherding a number of rain garden projects at nearby churches, including First Covenant Church and Trinity Holy Orthodox Church.
• Phyllis Webster, a resident of Maple Hills Townhome Association in Maplewood, is engaged in helping her community plan for and restore a buffer around the wetland behind their townhome complex.

We look forward to witnessing the results of their stewardship actions in the coming years!

We applaud the City of St. Paul for promoting stewardship that protects Lake Phalen and the Mississippi River as the Adopt-A-Drain program continues to build momentum. Thank you, Stewards, for your creativity and determination!

What's Going On at Grass Lake?

By Tina Carstens, District Administrator

You may be seeing a lot activity around the Grass Lake and Vadnais-Snail Lake Regional Park area and wondering what is going on. The Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District (District) has contracted with Northern Dewatering to move forward with a project to help alleviate the flooding risk by lowering the higher than normal water levels in the adjacent wetlands. We will be pumping the water from the large Wetland A (see map below) back into Grass Lake where it came from. The District’s modeling suggests that this will help reduce groundwater levels around the neighborhood of concern. The Crestview Addition neighborhood has been coping with high groundwater levels, likely due to the long term high levels in those surrounding wetlands.

Northern Dewatering will be connecting over 2,000 feet of 12-inch diameter pipe and routing the pipe from the large Wetland A, through the tunnel in Gramsie Road and into Grass Lake. As of today, April 6, you will see the contractor in the area near Gramsie Road. They are first pumping the water out of that area to allow use of the pedestrian tunnel for the longer discharge pipe. The tunnel will not be open to pedestrians during the pumping effort. The berm along the north side of Grass Lake will also be improved to provide the storage needed to accept the water pumped from the Wetland A. After they pump the area around Gramsie Road and the 12” pipe is built and in place, a large (but quiet) pump will be placed in Wetland A and the pumping will begin.

To keep an eye on how the surface and groundwater levels are responding to the pumping, the District has installed two groundwater monitoring pipes in the area as well as six lake/wetland level gauges in the necessary water bodies. The District will be monitoring all the levels to assess the impact surface water pumping has on the groundwater levels as well as keeping an eye on the need to delay pumping due to weather conditions. It will ensure that there is not an increase flooding risk in and around Grass Lake. 

Water being pumped into Grass Lake

From the Grass Lake area, the water drains to West Vadnais Lake and eventually south of I-694 through a pipe and into the District’s Gervais Creek system. From there you can follow the path of the water all the way from Gervais Lake to Lake Phalen and eventually the Mississippi River! Prior to today, a small culvert on the north side of Grass Lake was blocked to stop the flow of water from there to the north and into Wetland A. Also, the District’s maintenance contractor cleaned out a channel south of West Vadnais Lake in order to open up that flow path for better drainage efficiency. District staff will continue to monitor the flow path and all potential restrictions to that flow. 

The District will be closely monitoring the system throughout the duration of this project. The modeling efforts the District has done to this point show that, in and of itself, the pumping of water from Wetland A back into Grass Lake does not negatively impact any other structures or infrastructure. That being said, we will be watching the forecasts and rain events closely. Rain events, depending on the intensity and timing, could yield further impacts to the park and roadways. Those would occur whether or not we pumped the water back into Grass Lake from the wetland, but will still need to be monitored closely. There may be times where we will need to shut the pumps off in order to not be pumping water that will find its way back into the wetland during a rain event. If all goes as planned, the pumping is expected to last 4-6 weeks.

The District is also proceeding with a large-scale modeling effort to search for potential long term solutions to the flood risk in this area, as well as looking more into the Snail Lake high water levels. More to come on that in the near future.

Please click here to see this update along with background information on this area.

Please email Tina Carstens, District Administrator, with any questions or call 651-792-7950.

Welcome to Dianne Ward, our New Board Member

The Watershed District wants to extend a warm and official welcome to Dianne Ward, our newest Board Member.

Dianne, appointed by Ramsey County, is a resident of Shoreview and a retired attorney. She joined the Board in February when longtime Board Manager Bob Johnson retired.

Dianne is a former Ramsey County Master Gardener and has a strong interest in Grass Lake and groundwater issues.

We asked Dianne a couple of questions so we could get to know her a little better.

  

What are your hobbies?

• I am interested in environmental issues.
• I enjoy spending time in nature.
• I also enjoy spending time with my grandkids and dogs.

 

What are your goals while on the Board?

 

RWMWD is doing much good work and I hope to help accomplish all its goals. Some areas of particular interest include: 

• Ensuring RWMWD fully incorporates the area in the former Grass Lake Watershed Management Organization into its planning and management
• Evaluating and planning the whole District’s capacity to handle the more frequent 100-year rain events
• Improving communication with the District’s residents

We are excited to have Dianne on our Board! 

Make Waves at WaterFest 2017!

WaterFest, a free, family festival, in its 18th year, celebrates our clean lakes and offers fun and opportunities for outdoor hands-on learning about clean water, wildlife, land and water conservation.

 

"Make Waves" at WaterFest 2017

Saturday, June 3, 11 AM - 4 PM

Lake Phalen Park in St. Paul

Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District invites you and the whole community to join us for a fun-filled and educational day on and around the water at our annual WaterFest celebration. Spread a blanket on the hillside, chill out, relax and gaze out at beautiful Lake Phalen while listening to great music. All this and more is possible when you attend “Make Waves” WaterFest 2017.

WaterFest is held beside beautiful Lake Phalen in St. Paul.

 

Hot off the press are T-shirts for volunteers

with this new WaterFest logo!

Invite your neighbors and friends!

Bring your kids and grandkids!

 

At WaterFest you'll be inspired to learn new things and then try what you've learned at home. Learn some fun new games and recharge your batteries by meeting others in the community who are also interested in helping to keep our water clean.

 

 

Local talent will be featured at the amphitheater.
The Center for Hmong Arts and Talent (CHAT) will be hosting a variety of acts.

Photo credit: Anita Jader



Water Conservation is a popular topic at WaterFest. Check out the EMWREP interactive display.

(EMWREP stands for East Metro Water Resources Education Program)

Photo Credit: Sage Passi

 





New this year are the Breck School Bato Bato Marimba Band and the Wisdom Water Dancers
who will perform at the amphitheater.

Photo credit: The Current

 

Back by popular demand are Voyageur canoe rides, kayaks and paddleboats.

Photo Credit: Anita Jader

Wilderness Inquiry canoe rides are always a popular activity at WaterFest.

Photo Credit: Sage Passi

 




Try out some fishing with equipment and lessons from Tips Outdoors.

Photo credit: Sage Passi



Or win a prize when you participate in the fishing contest!

Photo credit: Sage Passi



 

  

Get some exercise at the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation jump castle!

Photo Credit: Anita Jader

Have your face painted and create a one-of-a-kind work of art.

Photo Credit: Anita Jader



Try your hand at lawn games.

Photo Credit: Anita Jader

Make and decorate your own fishing lure!

Photo Credit: Anita Jader

Then refresh yourself at our Water Bar featuring flights from St. Paul, Maplewood and Roseville.

 Photo Credit: Anita Jader

  

Be sure to pick up a Passport Odyssey so you can win wonderful prizes!

Photo Credit: Sage Passi

The fabulous Farnsworth Marching Band will return this year featuring eighty-eight musicians.

Photo Credit: Anita Jader

Food and ice cream will be available to purchase from several different venders.

Photo Credit: Anita Jader

At WaterFest you can play water games that will test your knowledge of pollinators and how to reduce your water footprint, receive sustainable gardening advice from Master Gardeners, take part in St. Paul Public Library StoryWalks with water-related themes and so much more!

Please note: Due to road construction, the park will only be accessible from the northwest or southeast because a section of Wheelock Parkway is closed. The five parking lots, island lot, pavilion lot, boathouse lot and beach lot on Phalen Drive and the satellite parking lots, Phalen Rec Center and Gustavus Adolphus Church lots will all be open.

In April 2016, Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District received the Sustainable Saint Paul Environmental Education Award for WaterFest. It was touted as “an event for all ages, with the vision that everyone can play a role in protecting our water resources".


Volunteers are still needed! If you'd like to volunteer or be an exhibitor, CLICK HERE.

 

Volunteers are always appreciated!

Photo Credit: Anita Jader

 

Many thanks to our sponsoring partners listed below.

 

Capitol Region Watershed District




City of Maplewood



 
City of Saint Paul




City of Roseville




City of Little Canada



 
City of Shoreview

City of White Bear Lake



 

City of North Saint Paul




City of Landfall


 

Barr Engineering



 

Metropolitan Council Environmental Services

 


Minnesota Native Landscapes




Minnesota Water Well Association




Ramsey County




Galowitz-Olson PLLC





Center for Hmong Arts & Talent



 
FIN - Minnesota DNR Fishing in the Neighborhood





Fishing for Life




Joe's Sporting Goods




Ramsey Conservation District




Tips Outdoors



 
Washington Conservation District



 
Wilderness Inquiry