13 minute read
Butterfly in the sky
from The Lowdown
WINGS & THINGS
www.presspubs.com THE LOWDOWN 9
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BY CORINNE STREMMEL STAFF WRITER
Washington County wants to save its monarchs.
Over the past several years, the overall monarch population in the U.S. has continually declined, bringing monarch butterflies closer to a listing on the endangered species list.
To preserve the monarch population, the Washington County Board of Commissioners has agreed to participate in the Monarch Candidate Conservation Agreement Assurance (CCAA) Program, a nationwide program originating from the University of Illinois-Chicago.
“It’s kind of like an insurance policy,” said Minnesota Department of Transportation ecologist Christopher Smith.
By entering the voluntary program, Washington County will proactively adopt conservation measures. In return, the county will be protected against additional regulatory actions that would likely occur if the monarch butterfly is added to the endangered species list.
The measures being adopted now involve planting and seeding native plants to bolster monarch habitat along County Road 21 and the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail.
The plan also includes brush removal and conservation mowing.
“The largest change, and probably the most important one, is implementing conservation mowing,” said Washington County Natural Resources Coordinator Dan MacSwain. “That means we won’t be mowing between May 1 and Oct. 1.”
By doing this, the county will not mow any milkweed while monarchs are present during their peak season in Minnesota. MacSwain explained that being strategic about mowing can encourage regrowth for milkweed, but for now, the county will implement a no-mow plan for May through October in affected areas.
Though Washington County is taking action to preserve the monarch population, Smith says that it is still possible that the monarch might get listed. That’s where the “insurance policy” comes into play.
“If the monarch gets listed and you’re a land manager participating in the CCAA, you’re not going to be subjected to the extra regulations,” said Smith. “The incentive is to be proactive, because if the listing still occurs, a permit is administered saying that steps have been taken.”
If Washington County were to not sign on to the agreement and the monarch is eventually listed as an endangered species, all activities that may harm the monarch — like road construction or any infrastructure maintenance — would be subjected to regulations that can cause delays, which could lead to significant project cost increases.
It can be difficult to gauge the exact monarch population in Washington County or Minnesota in general, but much of the monarch population data is taken from wintering numbers when monarchs migrate to Mexico. According to MacSwain, populations have continued the trend downward over the last decade due to climate change and land use changes.
“Our area in the upper Midwest is very important to the species, and that’s why there is this all-hands-on-deck approach to help recover the species by working with the ag(riculture) industry, road authorities, state DOTs and the DNR to try to get everyone to do a little bit to stop the continuing decline,” said Smith.
Like any species, monarchs play a crucial role in the county’s ecosystem and, as MacSwain noted, they can be a beautiful presence in the summertime.
“I guess I couldn’t envision a world without the monarch,” said MacSwain.
A healthy variety of native plants attract monarch butterflies.
PHOTOS BY DAN MACSWAIN | CONTRIBUTED
Strategic mowing practices can preserve monarch habitat.
Waiting Child
Nevaeh,17, is a talkative teen who likes to laugh and joke around. Nevaeh does a great job advocating for herself. She enjoys spending time with her friends, playing basketball and going to the movies to see a drama or comedy film. She loves Mexican food and going out for coffee. She likes classical and oldies music and admires Tupac. Nevaeh's favorite subject in school is math. Neveah is open to the type of family but would prefer an African American family. Neveah is open to a family that has other children and does not have a preference if they are older or younger. Nevaeh would do well in a home that is able to keep consistent rules and boundaries. She would like to live in the city versus the country. Nevaeh would enjoy having a cat. Following adoption, Nevaeh would need to maintain contact with her maternal grandmother and maternal aunts.
Submitted by MN Adopt, a state organization whose vision is to have zero kids waiting for permanent loving families, and mission to find and strengthen Minnesota adoptive, foster care and kinship families. To learn more, go to www.mnadopt.org. 735682
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The St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour: adding a personal touch to pottery for 30 years
Pottery tour organizer, Janel Jacobson, will have some of her pottery featured on the tour.
CORINNE STREMMEL STAFF WRITER
The St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour has both national and international fame and has attracted a variety of talented artists and pottery lovers right here in Minnesota for 30 years.
According to Will Swanson, who began the pottery tour with Robert Briscoe in the early ’90s, the St. Croix Valley Pottery Tour is a blueprint for other artists’ tours across the country.
From May 7-9, seven studios will host around 60 potters from around the U.S. during a three-day pottery sale across the upper St. Croix Valley.
“It’s an easy driving tour, and you drive yourself from place to place and all the studios are just a few miles from each other,” said Swanson.
The tour, traditionally held over Mother’s Day weekend, historically has attracted between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors. Swanson expects the number to grow, since the tours have been “online-only” tours over the past few years due to the pandemic.
Swanson and his wife, Janel, will host eight potters, each with their unique art style. Some, like Becky Lloyd, are pottery tour regulars and have received national recognition for their work.
“These are the best potters in their region,” said Swanson. “Some of these people have a huge following.”
Many of the potters in attendance have been celebrated for decades and are well established in the art world, but Swanson is looking for a younger crowd of potters to keep the tour going.
“I’m trying to renew the event by having younger guests from other states,” said Swanson.
A newcomer this year is Tara Wilson, who is based in Montana. Her work consists of forms that are curvy and figurative. Wilson hopes to establish a pottery tour in Montana that’s similar to the St. Croix Valley tour.
“I’m interested in how the whole thing operates. This is kind of our role model, and I’m excited to experience it from the inside. I’m really, really honored to be invited, and it’s something I’ve aspired to,” said Wilson.
Works like Wilson’s range from practical to ornamental, and visitors to the tour will see a variety of pottery styles. Swanson, whose personal work focuses on practical pieces, knows there is something sentimental to using a piece of pottery carefully crafted by an artist in an everyday setting.
“My experience is that people somehow come in contact with handmade pottery. That’s usually how it starts,” said Wilson.
People can appreciate the handmade work of a potter, whether it’s a cereal bowl or a casserole dish.
“They realize the variety of handmade work is extremely wide. They can find something to fit almost anyone’s color choices, from things that seem mundane or something made by a grad student who is taking some artistic license on something that looks nice on the shelf,” said Swanson.
Customers also appreciate getting to share the personal touch pottery can bring. In the past, Swanson has heard folks say how much they enjoy just getting to meet the potters and putting a face to the artwork.
For artists and pottery lovers alike, the tour gives that personal touch to that bowl or mug that we see every day.
JANEL JACOBSON | CONTRIBUTED
Staff Writer Corinne Stremmel can be reached by calling 651-407-1226 or emailing lowdownnews@presspubs.com.
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Washington County Attorney passes away
Pete Orput, the longserving Washington County Attorney, passed away yesterday, April 3, 2022 after a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was 66 years old.
“The people who live and work in Washington County lost more than a county attorney,” said Brent Wartner, first assistant county attorney. “They lost a champion of public safety, a guardian, a fierce advocate for justice–and a dedicated public servant.”
Orput was first elected Washington County Attorney in 2010. He was reelected in 2014 and 2018. He previously announced his plans to retire once his current term ended at the end of the year.
Driven by a passion for justice, Orput served the Washington County Attorney’s Office with honor, integrity, and spirit. He built an office that embraced his strong moral and ethical pillars, and the pride he had for his team was unmatched. Losing him leaves a hole in the office and the legal community that will not be easily filled.
“This weekend we lost one of our giants,” said Isanti County Attorney Jeff Edblad. “Pete evaluated every case under the standard of seeking justice. He had a special place in his heart for those suffering from addiction and for those who found themselves in the criminal justice system because of actions that were a result of mental health issues incurred through service to this country.” “Through his own public service to Washington County, the State of Minnesota and the United States Marine Corps, Pete Orput made a difference in the lives of so many others and we celebrate that today,” Edblad added. Orput enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1973. After his discharge as a lance corporal in 1976, he used the GI Bill to earn a teaching degree from the University of Minnesota. He went on to teach high school history in Minneapolis before pursuing a career in the legal profession.
After graduating from William Mitchell College of Law, Orput served as an assistant county attorney for Mille Lacs, Carver, Hennepin, and Dakota counties. He also taught police science as an adjunct professor at St. Mary’s University.
“It is hard to come up with words today regarding the passing of a great person like Pete,” said Washington County Board Chair Wayne Johnson. “He has accomplished so much, all in the name of serving the public. Pete was a friend, a colleague, and someone I always enjoyed seeing at meetings or events. My deepest condolences on behalf of the entire County Board and organization to his wife Tami and his family.” Orput is survived by his wife, Tami, six children and six grandchildren. The County Board will provide information on the process related to the County Attorney position at a future date.
CONTRIBUTED
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