Governor Dayton kicks off Year of Water Action

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On Thursday, August 18th Governor Dayton kicked off a Year of Water Action at Itasca State Park, near the headwaters of the Mississippi River.  For the next twelve months the Governor will use his platform to educate Minnesotans on the issues facing water in our state and empower them to take action.  

“We have a shared responsibility to protect Minnesota’s precious lakes, rivers, and streams for future generations. That starts with fostering an ethic of water conservation in our communities,” said Governor Dayton. “Throughout the next year, we must raise awareness of the challenges facing Minnesota’s waters and highlight ways that Minnesotans can take action.”

CURE’s focus throughout our 25 year history has been on the quality of water in Minnesota, and we are continually encouraged by leaders and citizens from around the state who make water a priority.  We applaud Governor Dayton’s efforts to bring attention to the water quality crisis plaguing much of Minnesota’s waters.

MN Water Ethic Graphic by Audrey Arner
CURE was at the State of Water Conference this past April when Governor Dayton made his first call for a Year of Water Action across the state of Minnesota.  CURE staff met privately with the Governor at the Conference and briefed him on CURE’s work on a Water Ethic for Minnesota, which was prompted by Dayton’s request during a speech at Minnesota’s first Water Summit in February.  We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Governor in changing how Minnesotans think about water.

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Kelsey Olson

Kelsey Olson

Director of Environmental Stewardship

Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.

Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the Minnesota Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, whether this is canning local produce, making kombucha, or other treats!