P3 Podcast - Angelina Emberson

Lake Hiawatha in Minneapolis, Minnesota is facing challenges due to poor water quality and beach closures caused by contaminants from heavy rainfall and stormwater runoff. Friends of Lake Hiawatha is working to clean up the lake, restore native plants, and create a safe habitat for wildlife. Volunteers remove invasive species, plant native flora, and monitor animal habitats. However, the organization faces challenges in having enough volunteers. Getting involved is easy, and participating in cleanup or planting events can make a difference. Small, consistent actions can help nature thrive, and supporting local efforts can create a healthier space for wildlife and people. Did you know that a small urban lake can be home to hundreds of species if the habitat is cared for? Lake Hiawatha is one of those special places, and thanks to the work of Friends of Lake Hiawatha, it's becoming a healthier home for wildlife. Hi, I'm Angelina Emberson, freshman student at the University of Minnesota. For my first year writing project, I've been learning about how Friends of Lake Hiawatha supports a healthier habitat for the lake's wildlife. I even got to interview some of the amazing volunteers who make this happen. In this episode, I'll share the challenges facing Lake Hiawatha, the work Friends of Lake Hiawatha does, and the inspiring stories from the volunteers who are helping to bring back wildlife to this beautiful space. Lake Hiawatha, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is loved by the community, but it's been struggling. Heavy rainfall and stormwater runoff has introduced contaminants into the lake, leading to poor water quality and even beach closures due to bacteria levels. The Minnesota Daily reported on six Minneapolis beaches closing last summer because of these issues, and this included Lake Hiawatha. These problems highlight the link between human activity and environmental health. Friends of Lake Hiawatha was formed to address these challenges. Their goal is to clean up the lake, restore native plants, and make the area a safe and thriving space for wildlife and the people who visit. This organization is part of a broader effort involving partnerships with the city of Minneapolis and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, which work together to restore the health of the creek and the lake. Engineering improvements and stormwater treatment projects are helping to reduce pollutants, but community efforts remain essential. So first off, the volunteers I spoke with explained how important their work is, and Barb Wieser emphasized this in her interview. In nurturing any sort of wildlife we see, and I think providing the habitat more and more, and planting shrubs too, so over time, the idea is to create this prairie all the way up to the back path, and the Parks Department, they said, okay, go for it. So it's a lot of work, but it's worth it. Yeah, and that will draw more and more wildlife. In this segment, she is saying that creating a prairie along the lake is a key goal for attracting wildlife. Additionally, Wendell noted, once it's here, it's going to be really tough to take it away. And he is implying that removing pollution and invasive species is critical. Now this raises the question of, what can we learn from Friends of Lake Hiawassa? Well, their work shows that restoring habitat doesn't just help animals, it helps the entire ecosystem, including people. So cleaner water, healthier plants, and more wildlife creates a better environment for everyone. Now, Helen elaborates how she achieved this on Saturday. Saturday, usually we're doing habitat restoration work. Sometimes we'll do trash cleanup, but most of it is working on our designated site that we have, that the park board gave us. And so we will remove invasive plants, like we're doing today, or we'll introduce native plants back to the land, because a lot of it was destroyed over the years. So we introduce new native plants, do a lot of new planting for the site, make sure that the plants are growing well, and they're set up for a healthy future around the lake. And we also do a lot of feeding, too, and then checking in on some of the animal habitat spots. So she says that most Saturdays are dedicated to habitat restoration, and all the volunteers remove invasive species, plant native flora, and monitor animal habitats. However, during one of my interviews, I prompted the question of, what are some of the biggest challenges the organization faces in its work? And Josh replied with this statement. Probably just having enough people. Having enough people. You know, it's tough, to be frank. Most weekends, there's five or six folks down here, and there's enough work for a dozen people. So it's just kind of, yeah, not having enough bodies. This sentiment is echoed in the broader environment movement, as reported by the Michigan Clean Water Corps, which has demonstrated how volunteer efforts are crucial for monitoring and improving water quality. Helen wraps up the interview by expressing how simple it is to get involved. I think it involves, generally, just community. So you showing up, whatever you can, whatever is easy for you, on what day works for you. Like, you don't have to be here every day. And you just come, show up, work with them, work with the people that volunteer. All I would have is habitat restoration work. And it's pretty easy to get involved. You just show up. I mean, you don't even have to, like, send a message. Arch just showed up one day. And it was like, hey, can I volunteer? And we're like, yes, you can. So it's very easy to get involved. Participating in a cleanup or a planting event is an easy way to make a difference, whether it's a day or as part of an ongoing commitment. After witnessing these efforts and talking to friends of Lake Hiawatha volunteers, I'm inspired to see how much we can accomplish when we work together. Their dedication proves that small, consistent actions can help nature thrive again. I hope you'll join me in supporting efforts like these in your own community. And together, we can create a healthier space for wildlife and ourselves. Thanks for listening.