Our annual awards tell the story of watershed leadership and innovation. Divided into two categories, each award showcases collaboration in the pursuit of protecting and improving local water resources.

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Watershed Partner Award:

Municipalities, counties, schools, or state entities who conduct watershed improvement projects in conjunction with a VLAWMO Capital Improvement Project (CIP) or the VLAWMO watershed plan. These projects focus on installations or infrastructure improvements to City/Township policies regarding wetlands, winter maintenance, turf maintenance, municipal water use, MS4 programming, or similar efforts. Other examples eligible for nomination include sustained maintenance for stormwater best management practices (BMP's) and upgrades to municipal code and policies to improve water conservation and management. Members of City or Township commissions are also eligible for nomination.

Each water drop award is awarded to a new recipient each year, with winners getting etched into the award to add to the story. Description of the award-winning efforts will be displayed on this web page. Nominations are reviewed and voted on by the VLAWMO Technical Commission (TEC), and presented to the VLAWMO Board of Directors at the end of the year. VLAWMO will forego granting the award if no nominations are received by the nomination deadline, or if nominations received don't adequately meet the criteria outlined below.

Watershed Partner Award Criteria

Watershed Partner Award Criteria:

Nomination is a municipality, state, public school, or county entity operating within the VLAWMO watershed.

Nominations should relate to one of the following categories:

Capital improvement project or installation.
Reference and application of the VLAWMO water plan or water policy.
Use of VLAWMO education or website content.
Use of VLAWMO programming such as workshops, MS4 programming.
Successful implementation of a VLAWMO cost-share grant with supplementary education efforts.
Water-related communications efforts or communications in conjunction with VLAWMO programming.
Recruitment and utilization of volunteers for a water-related activity (residents, students, Scouts, congregations, VLAWMO Watershed Action Volunteers, Minnesota Water Stewards, etc.).
Specific efforts that overlap with VLAWMO projects as well as neighboring watersheds within the municipality.
Other topics or efforts reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the VLAWMO Technical Commission (TEC).
Multi-year efforts should also have a connection to a project or program within the year of nominating.

Watershed Partner Award nomination form

Watershed Partner Award online form

Send completed nomination forms via email or hardcopy to our office within the Vadnais Heights City Hall. Self-nominations are acceptable and nominations may be made anonymously.

Watershed Steward Award:

Residents, volunteers, businesses, neighborhood or lake associations, and community groups who have worked independently or with VLAWMO staff to improve water resources or community awareness in water topics such as wetlands, climate change, yard care practices, or other related topics. These nominations focus on use of the VLAWMO cost-share program, residential and neighborhood partnerships, volunteer programs, or community oriented education efforts.

VLAWMO will forego granting the award if no nominations are received by the nomination deadline, or if nominations received don't adequately meet the criteria outlined below.

Watershed Steward Award Criteria

Watershed Steward Award Criteria:

Nominations should relate to one of the following categories:

Nomination is a resident, business, or staff member who lives or works in the VLAWMO watershed.
VLWAMO cost-share recipients that have also demonstrated initiative in education on an installation.
Coordinating education and outreach that promotes awareness and protection of local water resources.
Outstanding and ongoing volunteer efforts with VLAWMO events, watershed education, and/or citizen science monitoring activities.
Neighborhood or community efforts associated with watershed improvement, place-based natural resource awareness, or water conservation practices. Can be related to VLAWMO’s water plan and education and outreach plan.
Other topics or efforts reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the VLAWMO Technical Commission (TEC).
Multi-year efforts should also have a connection to a project or program within the year of nominating.

Watershed Steward Award nomination form

Watershed Steward Award online form

Send completed nomination forms via email or hardcopy to our office within the Vadnais Heights City Hall. Self-nominations are acceptable and nominations may be made anonymously.