Updates and Articles

Join us for MN Water Action Day • April 10, 2019

January 28, 2019

Join us for Water Action Day 2019, a day of public action and advocacy to let lawmakers know we care about our water! #ProtectOurWater >>

FMR’s Molly Pederson testifies for Environmental Trust Fund fix

by Trevor Russell

January 25, 2019

In late January, a key House committee approved legislation to fix last year’s controversial raid on Minnesota’s Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. FMR lobbyist Molly Pederson testified in support of the bill. >>

Droves expected for Feb. 2019 river drawdown

January 16, 2019

In late-February 2019, you'll have a rare opportunity to see the Mississippi River at St. Anthony Falls lower than it's been for over 20 years. >>

Action Alert: Deny the Upper Harbor Terminal Concept Plan [CLOSED]

January 15, 2019

The City of Minneapolis is moving quickly to advance the proposed Upper Harbor Terminal Concept Plan along 1 mile of riverfront in Northside Minneapolis. The plan allows private interests to take the lead and reap the majority of benefits from this publicly-owned property.

Minneapolis residents, join us in telling your city council representative and Mayor Frey that we can do better before the council's committee meeting on February 19. >>

Help shape beloved riverfront parks: Mississippi Gorge and Hidden Falls, Crosby Farm

by Irene Jones

January 7, 2019

Master plans for three treasured regional parks in the heart of the urban Twin Cities are getting updated this year — the Mississippi Gorge Regional Park in Minneapolis, Hidden Falls Regional Park and Crosby Farm Regional Park in St. Paul. In late January and early February, community members will have an opportunity to see the plans and to weigh in. >>

Lake Street Bridge from the Mississippi Gorge

First buckthorn wreath-making workshop a success

by Alex Roth

January 7, 2019

For some in the do-it-yourself crowd, wreath-making has become a fun way to create holiday decor. This past December, FMR and two local artists put a unique spin on this DIY theme, hosting an open studio wreath-making event with one big twist… we used invasive buckthorn. >>

Two workshop participants display their buckthorn wreath creations.

A rare opportunity to protect 150+ acres on the main stem of the Mississippi

January 4, 2019

FMR is leading the charge to acquire and restore a once-manicured golf course in Washington County. Learn more about this opportunity and our hope to transform the former golf fairways and putting greens back to their natural state. >>

A view of the Mississippi River looking across to Lower Grey Cloud Island from the former site of Mississippi Dunes Golf Links.

Our 2019 legislative priorities

by Trevor Russell

January 3, 2019

Kicking off the return of our annual Legislative Blog, here's a summary of FMR's top three legislative priorities this session: Forever Green, Working Lands and fixing the Environmental Trust Fund raid. >>

A baby dies, a brewery town runs dry — 'Water Pressure' illustrates MN & WI water problems

by sue rich

January 2, 2019

While we're sad to see Josephine Marcotty leave her post as the Star Tribune's long-time environmental reporter, we're grateful for her parting "Water Pressure" series.

If you've been saving up your free, online-access Star Tribune stories, this trio is worth the clicks. >>

Local muralist Liv Novotny to create FMR's third water quality mural

by Amy Kilgore

January 2, 2019

As we look to the new year, FMR is excited to announce the selection of Liv Novotny as the lead artist for our third water quality mural project. Novotny will work with the community to design and install a water quality mural in St. Paul this summer. >>