Water

FMR is proud to be a leading voice in protecting the water of our Big River and all the people and wildlife who depend on it.

From the banks of the Mississippi to the halls of the Legislature, our Water program strives to keep you up to date on important water-quality issues. (For political animals, here are all FMR posts related to legislative advocacy.)

Updates are also shared on social (Facebook and Instagram) and in FMR's Mississippi Messages newsletter.

Join us! Sign up to be a River Guardian to receive email action alerts when we need your help the most, plus invitations to educational happy hours and other events.

POSTS

Update: Clean Water Fund bills pit key water programs against one another

April 24, 2019

In recent weeks, committees in the House and Senate have laid out how they think Minnesota should spend its Legacy Amendment funding for clean water programs. Unfortunately, both bills call for use of these special, voter-created funds for programs normally supported through more routine channels. Now, three broadly-supported programs have been essentially pitted against one another during a time of a billion-dollar surplus. >>

Protect our environment - remove rollbacks in SF 2314 [CLOSED]

April 22, 2019

It's Earth Day and we wish we had a happier post to share with you, but Minnesota's environment needs you. TODAY.

Despite a $1 billion surplus, the MN Senate is about to vote on a budget -- tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23 - to slash general fund spending on the environment and natural resources by $57 million.

Please take action today to stop the cuts and remove rollbacks in SF 2314!

Senate proposes major environmental rollback

by Trevor Russell

April 17, 2019

The Minnesota Senate’s proposed environmental budget bill (SF 2314) makes crippling cuts to general fund spending for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (86% cut), Department of Natural Resources (17%) and Board of Water and Soil Resources (39%). And that’s not all. >>

Water Action Day 2019 a success! ...Despite the snowstorm

by Sophie Downey

April 12, 2019

Despite the sudden spring blizzard, over 450 Minnesotans from across the state joined us at the Capitol for a day of action and advocacy. Together, they attended trainings on a range of issues, met individually with almost a quarter of the Minnesota Legislature, participated in the first Water Town Hall and rallied for clean water. >>

Today is Water Action Day! Ask your legislators to #ProtectOurWater [CLOSED]

April 10, 2019

Today is Water Action Day! If you can't join us at the Minnesota State Capitol, participate remotely by emailing your legislators and asking them to #ProtectOurWater!

MPR News: Lawmakers push funding boost for Forever Green

by Trevor Russell

March 13, 2019

Check out Minnesota Public Radio's recent coverage of our coalition's press event on one of our major legislative priorities this session: The University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative to research and develop clean-water crops. >>

Environmental Trust Fund restored!

by Trevor Russell

March 12, 2019

On March 5, Gov. Tim Walz signed bipartisan legislation to fix last year’s controversial use of Minnesota’s voter-approved Environment & Natural Resources Trust Fund. This is a win for taxpayers and our environment, and restoring the fund was a major priority for FMR this session. Here’s what happened. >>

Environment fund to be restored!

March 8, 2019

Great news! We’re thankful legislative leaders and Gov. Tim Walz agreed to a funding fix that gets shovels in the ground as soon as possible for worthy projects while preserving the citizen-driven Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund voters created 30 years ago. >>

Action Alert: Tell Minnesota to invest in clean water [CLOSED]

February 25, 2019

FMR is championing a pair of innovative bills that will protect our water, diversify our croplands, and strengthen rural communities. Please join us in asking legislators to support full funding for Forever Green and the Working Lands Drinking Water Protection Program. >>

Legislation could protect public wells with clean-water crops

by Trevor Russell

February 20, 2019

Legislation introduced this month would fund the Working Lands Drinking Water Program. The program will help farmers plant and sell alternative crops that protect drinking water while maintaining farm profitability. As a pilot initiative, it's limited to the state's most vulnerable wellhead areas — places where conservation crops can protect public health. >>