Believe it or not, March 20th marks the first day of spring! That means we're ramping up for event season and we've got plenty of opportunities for you to get your hands dirty with FMR. Join us to protect and restore local natural areas, or rally for the river, for Earth Day — and beyond! >>
Latest News

Super Volunteers Stacy and Allan. Photo by Anna Botz for FMR.

As we noted in the State of the River Report, chloride or salt pollution is a growing problem for Minnesota's waters. This session, FMR and our allies have been advancing a bill in the Minnesota Legislature to reduce it.
We're happy to report that the bill has garnered bipartisan support. However, it will most likely be wrapped into the House and Senate omnibus bills, making its fate murky at best. >>
Two Minnesota rivers — including our local Mississippi River gorge between Minneapolis and St. Paul — made America's River's 'Most Endangered' list.
WCCO's Jennifer Mayerle reports:

Recently, a number of Minneapolis residents and FMR raised concerns about Minnehaha Academy's proposed expansion of their north campus along the Mississippi River.
The school has organized a task force of community stakeholders to discuss the concerns in more detail and try to find workable solutions. >>

Now through Earth Day, $5 from every online purchase will be donated to FMR in support of our conservation and restoration efforts!
Celebrate the Twin Cities' own Mississippi River Road for its scenic pathways, history, heritage, and a place to recreate and relax. Track Club Co has designed a commemorative Mississippi River Road T-shirt. And now through Earth Day, $5 from the sale of each tee will be donated to FMR in support of our restoration and conservation efforts. >>

The legislature is rolling up its sleeves and rolling back bedrock protections for water quality. Here's our top-10 list of bad water bills (so far) this session. >>

To celebrate our 25th year, each month in 2018 FMR staff will profile places along the metro Mississippi River that are near and dear to us, places that connect to FMR but that we also enjoy in our own downtime. By the end of our silver year, we'll have built a map of 25 special river places for you and yours to learn about, visit and enjoy.
This month: Spring waterfalls
Snow melts and cold spring waters trickle down our yards, driveways, and gutters, ultimately swiftening our creeks, swelling our rivers and making our waterfalls roar. Be sure to check out these two falls — one famous, one not so much, but neither to be missed during spring peak. >>

The spillway at Lock and Dam 1, a.k.a. the Ford Dam, in St. Paul.
Dam removal discussions are ramping up in the Twin Cities, and for good reason. Just as the Army Corps of Engineers embarks on a study to determine future ownership and operation of the locks and dams in Minneapolis and St. Paul, our local Mississippi river gorge was named to the 2018 list of American Rivers "10 Most Endangered Rivers."
Learn more, including FMR's position and recent media coverage. >>
Although our policy and advocacy work tends to make the most headlines, many FMR supporters, members and volunteers highly value the natural areas we protect, restore and enhance throughout the metro area. But even the longest-standing FMR members and volunteers wonder where, exactly, we work.
Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way for folks to see all of FMR’s 37 active restoration sites in one place? Perhaps some kind of…map? >>

The Minnesota House and Senate are quickly advancing bills to eliminate water quality standards that protect wild rice – Minnesota’s state grain. >>