Blue Star Award Program turns 1, exceeds goals

Published July 18, 2011. See more Water Updates, or learn more about Green Step Cities, which now houses the Blue Star program.

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The Blue Star Award Program is a one-of-a-kind program that offers communities that excel in urban runoff management the public recognition they deserve.

Communities participate in this voluntary program by completing a rigorous self-assessment that rates key community indicators such as city development codes, site-design guidelines and post-construction stormwater runoff standards. Communities that score high enough earn the Blue Star Award, and are recognized as leaders in protecting Minnesotas water resources and public health.

Launched in July 2010, the Blue Star Award Program is proud to honor the 42 communities that have participated during its first year. FMR and our Blue Star Award Program partners would also like to thank each of our 14 Blue Star Award-Winning communities for their efforts to protect Minnesotas water resources, including top-scoring city Independence, Minnesota.

Is your community a Blue Star Award Winner? Find out at www.bluestarmn.org. While you're there, be sure to check out our leaderboard to see the most recent list of Minnesota's Top 10 Clean Water Communities.

Upcoming Events

Pine Bend Bluffs brush haul + lunch [FULL]
Saturday, October 3, 2026 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area at the Flint Hills Resources property, Inver Grove Heights
Collect native seed in a rare, dry prairie [WAITLIST]
Wednesday, October 7, 2026 - 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area, Hastings
Oak woodland brush haul + lunch
Saturday, October 24, 2026 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
3M's oak woodlands, Cottage Grove

See all Upcoming Events

Take Me to the River 

Celebrate the Mississippi River and choose your own adventure while supporting FMR at our reimagined fall fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 24.

 

Claim your spot by Sept. 10.