This Spring, RPBCWD launched a new category of the Stewardship Cost Share Program. The new Mini-Cost Share category has a simplified application and funds small native planting projects at a 95% cost share. Residential applicants, including renters, are eligible for up to $500 (or $1,500 for projects planted in the shoreland zone of a major lake). Residents are also eligible for a free site visit with a landscape restoration specialist to discuss project ideas.

RPBCWD is organizing a series of meetings about the development of holistic watershed and lake management plans for the Mitchell, Red Rock, Ann, Lucy, and Susan sub-watersheds. The first round of meetings provided an overview of the project and its purpose. The second round of meetings will discuss findings of the study and the identification of potential projects and initiatives. Two dates are offered, 6pm on May 21st and May 28th.

Want to start a clean water education campaign? Plant native flowers in your yard? Hold a community clean-up? Get up to $250 to help you make your project a reality. The catch? You can't do it alone! To get an Action Grant, find at least one other person outside your household to join your team. Want to install a free seed library? See if your neighbor has seeds to share. Those native plants? Invite friends over to help you plant them.

Our 2026 Photo Contest is open! We're looking for photos of our watershed to feature in next year's 2027 calendar. We want to see your best photographs that feature our lakes, streams, parks, wildlife, plants, recreation, or anything else outdoors that inspires you. Photos must be taken within the boundaries of the Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District.

Adopt-a-Dock is a volunteer program where lake residents can help monitor zebra mussels in lake. Early detection of a new zebra mussel infestation or monitoring the abundance of an existing infestation helps management efforts.

The Community Collaborative Rain, Hail and Snow Network (CoCoRaHS) is a community-based network of more than 20,000 volunteers nationwide working together to measure and map precipitation. Volunteers take measurements of precipitation each time it rains or snows. These precipitation reports are then recorded online and used for water resource analysis.

To assist with the control of invasive buckthorn within the watershed district, RPBCWD has two Uprooter tools available for loan with a $250 deposit. The deposit will be returned to you when you return the Uprooter in good condition. You may borrow the Uprooter for up to 10 days.