Did you know you are about to read an award-winning newsletter?
Now that you do, get ready to jump into Water Resource, ISG’s e-newsletter all about water and natural resource solutions! In honor of Lake Appreciation Month, we’re taking a closer look at nutrient pollution issues at Lake Washington in southern Minnesota. Our planners, architects, engineers, and scientists are proud to collaborate on lake projects like this, bringing creative solutions to keep vital resources healthy.
|
To forward this email to others, download a PDF version here.
|
|
|
Positive Imprint: ISG Case Studies |
|
|
| Lake Washington
Blue Earth and
Le Sueur Counties, MN
|
|
|
Lake Washington is dealing with ongoing water quality problems caused by high nutrient levels, which lead to algae blooms every summer. The 1,516-acre lake, located northeast of Mankato on the border of Blue Earth and Le Sueur counties, is a popular recreation spot, but these blooms are affecting its health and use.
To identify the sources of the excess nutrients, ISG collected water quality data over the past three summers from the lake’s inlets, outlet, and several in-lake sites. Early results showed that some of the phosphorus—the main nutrient feeding the algae—was coming from the sediments at the bottom of the lake, a process known as internal loading. In response, ISG recommended gathering sediment samples to measure this. In fall 2024, the Lake Washington Improvement Association (LWIA) and ISG teamed up with the University of Minnesota’s St. Anthony Falls Lab (SAFL) to collect ten samples and test how much phosphorus was being released, and whether an alum treatment could help lock it in place.
The study confirmed that internal loading is happening, but found using alum would not currently be a cost-effective solution. Based on these findings, the team has shifted its focus for the 2025 season to look at where phosphorus is coming from across the watershed, with the goal of reducing outside sources before considering in-lake treatment in the future.
Discover additional insights and watch the video below!
|
|
|
Leveraging Applied Technology |
|
|
Shell Rock River Watershed District Water
Quality Database
|
Struggling with outdated systems, the Shell Rock River Watershed District partnered with ISG to re-envision how they manage water quality data. ISG created a custom, field-ready digital water quality database that delivers
real-time insights, reduces manual work, and empowers smarter
environmental decisions.
|
|
|
In The Know: Funding Opportunities |
|
|
Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR)
|
Clean Water Legacy Partners Grant
- Applications are due August 5, 2025
-
For non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and tribal organizations
- Funds projects that seek to protect, enhance and restore water quality
in Minnesota
Note: The BWSR's Projects and Practices grant will not be offered during this funding cycle. Although many looked forward to this opportunity, this pause offers a valuable chance to reflect and strengthen applications for the future.
|
|
|
Let's Connect: Upcoming Events |
|
|
| New Opportunities in Raleigh and Philadelphia
|
|
|
In May, ISG broadened its geographic footprint and service capabilities by acquiring JDAVIS, a respected, employee-owned design firm with established offices in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This strategic acquisition not only enhances ISG’s presence in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, but also brings a wealth of design expertise and regional knowledge into the fold. For the ISG water team, the expansion is particularly exciting.
With proximity to the Chesapeake Bay—one of the most ecologically and economically important estuaries in the U.S.—we are now well-positioned to play a greater role in coastal resilience, watershed management, and sustainable water infrastructure development in the region. The addition of JDAVIS's local insight and client relationships opens new avenues for collaboration, innovation, and impact across water-related projects, from urban stormwater systems to large-scale environmental restoration efforts.
|
|
|
| Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) 2025 Annual Conference Recap
|
|
|
The 2025 ASFPM Conference was a whirlwind from learning about technical approaches and program opportunities to networking with other professionals in New Orleans, Louisiana–an area steeped in floodplain management challenges and solutions. Julie Blackburn, CFM, joined some 1,500 others for this four day event and contributed to the conversation by presenting how ISG leverages technology to improve floodplain resiliency.
Highlights from attending included enjoying regional foods, touring flood mitigation projects, taking in the vibrant exhibit hall, chatting with Minnesota's floodplain wizard Ceil Straus, and watching one of ISG's 2025 interns and 2024 ASFPM Foundation Scholarship recipient Eryn Bloom take to the stage to announce the 2025 scholarship winner. ISG looks forward to the 2026 conference from May 31 to June 4 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin!
|
|
|
| Newest Board Member
of America's
Watershed Initiative
|
|
|
ISG's Water Business Unit Leader Julie Blackburn, CFM, was recently appointed as a board member of America's Watershed Initiative (AWI). The AWI is a collaborative group addressing management challenges for the Mississippi River and its 250+ tributaries.
"We are thrilled to welcome Julie to our board of directors. She brings a wealth of experience in strategic watershed leadership that will be invaluable as we advance our mission. We're particularly excited about her proven skills in building collaborative relationships, which aligns perfectly with one of our organization's core tenets. Julie's expertise will strengthen our ability to create meaningful partnerships and drive impactful change across the watershed."
– Rachel Orf, AWI Board Chair and Director of Environmental Stewardship, National Corn Grower Association
"Growing up in the Mississippi headwaters region of Minnesota and with a career dedicated to watershed protection and restoration, I'm excited to put my personal and professional passions to work for this great organization. AWI's focus on increasing collaboration to increase the vibrancy of America's watershed is aligned with the work we do every day at ISG throughout the central Mississippi River Valley and we are proud to support this organization."
– Julie Blackburn, CFM, Water Business Unit Leader, ISG
|
|
|
|
Taking Top Honors: 1st Place in Newsletter Marketing from the
Zweig Group
|
|
|
ISG received national recognition in the 2025 Zweig Group Marketing Excellence Awards, earning First Place in the Newsletter Marketing category for the Water Resources and Rural Waters newsletters. Creating our newsletters have been nothing short of a labor of love. It’s a brainchild born from cross-discipline collaborating, researching, and refining—all with the goal of delivering value and insight straight to your inbox. Every edition is meticulously created, reflecting dedication, creativity, and a deep commitment to quality.
Thank you to all our long-time subscribers for your continued support, and a warm welcome to those who have recently joined us—we’re excited to keep sharing valuable updates with you.
|
|
|
Architecture + Engineering + Environmental + Planning
|
|
|
Manage your preferences | Opt Out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
|
115 East Hickory Street Suite 300 | Mankato, MN 56001 US
|
|
|
This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.
| | |
|
|
