Education

Air Quality Index
The Air Quality Index (AQI) was developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide a simple, uniform way to report daily air quality conditions. AQI values are reported hourly on the MPCA's Web site. Each weekday, you may also hear a recorded message of the daily AQI for the Twin Cities metro area by dialing (651) 297-1630 or visit Air Quality Index.

Erosion Control Blankets
Blankets needs to be used when you have exposed soil to contain it on the site and prevent it from spilling into the storm water or catch basin. Click here for more information.

Invasive Species
There are insects, plants and animals that are native to our area and those that are not. In our transient, global society, insects have ample opportunity to travel to our area on lumber trucks and other forms of transport, for example. This import of invasive insects disrupts the natural ecological cycle. For some species, there is no natural check and balance and the insect flourishes at the expense of native plants.

The Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council (MISAC) has information about invasive species and the efforts to address them in Minnesota.  For more information, click here.

Kyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is an amendment to the 1997 international treaty that took effect in 2005. Under this treaty, nations that emit less than their quota of greenhouse gases can sell emission credits to polluting nation states. Although the United States has not ratified the Kyoto Protocol, several states and many cities in the U.S., including Minneapolis, have signed agreements and implemented emission reduction programs. For more information from Wikipedia, Click here. To read the actual Kyoto Protocol, click here.

ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability,
This is an international association of local governments and national and regional organizations that have made a commitment to sustainable development. For more information, click here.

Metropolitan Mosquito Control District

The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District provides a variety of services in the seven county Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota metropolitan area. Services include:

- Survey for and control mosquitoes that transmit human diseases,
- Monitor deer tick populations and provide public education regarding Lyme and other tick-borne diseases,
- Survey for and control nuisance causing mosquitoes, biting gnats, and mosquitoes that transmit dog heartworm,
- Public education regarding all aspects of District programs, with emphasis on ways to reduce risk of mosquito and tick-borne diseases.

Click here for the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District

NextStep
A comprehensive web site sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for people who want to find and share resources on sustainability. Click here for more information.

Post Carbon Institute
The Post Carbon Institute is an action, education, and think tank offering research, project tools, education and information to implement proactive strategies to adapt to an energy constrained world. The Institute works locally and regionally with community groups, governments, businesses and other public and private organizations.

For more information, click here.

Sundays Energy
Sundays Energy is a Minneapolis, employee-owned company dedicated to advancing environmental sustainability. Sundays Energy focuses its collaborations with the green community, but also works with regional and national socially minded businesses and non-profits.

For more information, click here.

Take a Guided Tour of the Eco-Yard Midtown
Hennepin County is hosting free tours of the Eco-Yard Midtown demonstration site where residents can learn about environmentally friendly, sustainable landscaping from a landscape restoration specialist.

The Eco-Yard Midtown demonstrates how to incorporate lower maintenance lawn, trees and shrubs, prairie, bird and butterfly gardens, a grass swale and rainwater garden into an urban landscape. These sustainable plantings require little water, and no fertilizers or pesticides that can be released into our environment as a pollutant.

The Eco-Yard Midtown is located at 2801 21st Ave. S. at the intersection of the Midtown Greenway and the Hiawatha Light Rail Line in Minneapolis. The tours are free and available year-round.  Please register in advance online at Hennepin County or by calling Hennepin County Environmental Services at (612) 348-9266.

Drinking Water Report
The City of St. Louis Park Water Utility's mission is to provide an uninterrupted supply of safe, high quality water to our customers. We also strive to be an integral part of the community, ready to educate children and adults about drinking water and the system delivering it. If you are interested in reading more facts, Click here to read the 2007 Drinking Water Report. This report is updated annually in January and published in June. For more information, call the Utilities Division at 952-924-2558 or email pworks@stlouispark.org.