The Outstanding Partner Award  : Brian Nelson

Brian Nelson of Nelco Landscaping was awarded the Outstanding Partner Award. As the landscaping contractor for the Carol Matheys Center for Children & Families in Oakdale, Brian not only designed and installed a raingarden and pavers for the center, but involved the children and their families in the planting and learning about stormwater, raingardens and plants. He helped the center “become stewards of the landscape.” 

Brian also worked with the Washington Conservation District to design landscape features in their new office in Oakdale, including a pervious green “overflow” parking lot with an adjacent bioretention basin and native plantings.

Brian credited his work experience with Metro Blooms and the influences of his mentor Rusty Schmidt and others in the field with helping him shift his priorities to “working on sustainable projects that have the capacity to reap positive impacts a hundred years down the road from now.” District Permit Coordinator Paige Ahlborg presented the award.

Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District. "2014 Watershed Excellence Awards Recognize Clean Water Heroes." Web log post. Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District. N.p., 17 Dec. 2014. Web. 21 Feb. 2015. <http://therippleeffectmn.blogspot.com/2014/12/2014-watershed-excellence-awards.html>.