Julie’s passion for the ecological health of our water and natural resources translates seamlessly to her responsibilities at ISG.
Committed to protecting and restoring water and natural resources, Julie leads ISG's Water Business Unit with nearly 30 years of strategic leadership experience. Keenly aware of the nexus and dependency of people and the environment, she thrives on working collaboratively with stakeholders to optimize the best outcomes that build resilience in natural systems while supporting community needs.
Julie’s work is anchored in offering clients actionable solutions that work in real-world applications, pushing design innovation, and expanding ISG’s geographical reach. Outside of work, Julie recharges in nature too. You can find her snowshoeing in prairies, hiking in forests, or boating on one of Minnesota’s 10,000 lakes.
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Community Resiliency: Plan Now To Protect The Future
Julie Blackburn, CFM
Following the 2024 wettest spring on record in the state, flood risks have become a pressing concern for Minnesotans. Whether dealing with damage firsthand, volunteering in clean-up, or feeling the impact in another way, many realize that future planning for intensifying weather patterns is crucial.
Environmental Firm to Host Second Annual Southern Minnesota Lake Resources Conference
Julie Blackburn, CFM
ISG will host the second annual Future of Southern Minnesota Lakes Conference at the Mayo Clinic Health System Event Center in Mankato, Minnesota. The conference will open on Friday evening, April 12, with a fireside chat featuring writer and host of the television show "Minnesota Bound," Ron Schara. The evening is an exclusive opportunity for conference attendees to share stories about Minnesota’s natural resources and learn from one another in a relaxed atmosphere.
Creating Flood-Resilient Communities: A Case Study in Floodplain Management
Julie Blackburn, CFM
In the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesotans love to live near and play in our abundant water systems. But the effects of population growth, land use development, and climate change pose challenges within floodplain areas, contributing to persistent flooding issues.
A Cyclical Approach to Lake Management
Julie Blackburn, CFM
There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to lake water quality management. The unique characteristics of a lake and its surrounding watershed, require development of a custom plan to improve lake health. With so many variables impacting each lake, it can be difficult to understand what the problem is, optimal solutions, and equally important, how to pay for them.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Perennial Prairie: A Three-Year Growing Journey
Julie Blackburn, CFM
ISG’s Plant Ecology team invites you to journey with us over a three-year period as we transform six sections of Sportsman’s Landing in La Crescent, Minnesota into thriving native plant demonstration sites. The area provides multiple landscape design opportunities to restore shoreline, enhance a stormwater basin, and elevate parking lot islands all while increasing habitat for pollinators.
Water Quality Relies on Building Quality Relationships
Julie Blackburn, CFM
ISG oversees the full spectrum of water management planning, from complex multi-county, multi-agency efforts to centralized issues impacting a single landowner’s property. In each scenario, quality relationships influence action taken on water quality solutions. ISG water resource professionals cultivate common ground to ensure a resilient future is achieved for stakeholders and our natural resources.