Friends of the Mississippi River

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) engages people to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities region.

Updates

Land Use & Planning

March 4, 2026

FMR Strib commentary: 'The public wants cleanup at the St. Paul Ford site. Do regulators?'

Elected leaders, community members and Friends of the Mississippi River are all calling for a full cleanup of Ford Area C. Read FMR's Star Tribune commentary.Read more.

The river with islands in the distance near the site of the now-abandoned mine proposal.

Land Use & Planning

February 13, 2026

Mining company abandons proposed project in Mississippi riverbed

FMR advocates helped turn the tide against this damaging proposal in Cottage Grove, which faced both widespread public opposition and a lawsuit.Read more.

The Minnesota Capitol building in front of a purple evening sky.

Conservation, Water & Legislative, Land Use & Planning

January 19, 2026

Our 2026 legislative priorities for the river

From conservation work to sustainable agriculture to lock and dam questions, there will be opportunities this session to make a positive impact on the Mississippi River.Read more.

General, Water & Legislative, Land Use & Planning

February 24, 2026

FMR endorses pause on data centers

FMR recently signed on to an opinion piece published February 21, 2026, in the Star Tribune calling for a two-year moratorium on data center development in Minnesota.Read more.