FMR Updates

Help us identify the river views we need to protect

December 7, 2017

Upper Mississippi River from Pine Bend SNA

Now through spring 2018, the 25 metro-area cities and towns in our local national park, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, are working to identify scenic river views worth protecting. Once each city has determined its list, they must work to protect these views according to new state rules that protect the metro river corridor. Let's help our cities compile the best list possible!

Check out the views submitted so far, and then tell us about yours or help by contributing a needed photo. >>

by Amy Kilgore

December 7, 2017

Year after year we are blown away by the hardworking, enthusiastic volunteers we are so lucky to work with. The river thanks you and so do we! Join us for a look back at the best photos from our 2017 stewardship events. >>

Shovels in the ground for three new river destinations

by Irene Jones

November 16, 2017

Three new destinations are beginning to take shape along the river north of St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, each with something different to offer. Coming up: a reclaimed island (image above), a destination riverfront restaurant, and one fully featured playground. >>

A shocking, long-awaited outing — The 2017 volunteer trout survey

November 14, 2017

“It’s been three years of cancellations with high water in the river and getting rained out," said volunteer Tom Ziegler with a smile. "They [FMR] dangle this carrot when we do the buckthorn removal across the road, that if we did that job, we would get to do this event.”

Well, 2017 was finally the year. >>

State studies confirm: 40 percent of MN lakes and rivers are polluted

by Trevor Russell

November 13, 2017

In the land of 10,000 lakes, about 40 percent of Minnesota’s waters fail to meet basic health standards according to a pair of new state water quality reports — with our namesake river, the Minnesota, among the most polluted. >>

Lake Pepin along the Mississippi River, impaired for excess nutrients

How Minnesota almost lost its wild turkeys

by Alex Roth

November 13, 2017

A big new prairie is on the way!

by Alex Roth

November 13, 2017

It's not every day that FMR ecologists get to convert 180 acres of soybean and farm fields back to native prairie. Sure, we return park lawns and buckthorn thickets to prairie every year, but individual project sites rarely crack the 100-acre mark.

So we're especially excited about beginning the large-scale transformation at the William H. Houlton Conservation Area in Elk River. Check out some photos from the first steps of creating this much-needed pollinator and wildlife habitat at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi rivers!