Updates and Articles

'An Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River' a record success!

Thanks to more than 250 river lovers, we raised over $175,000 to protect, restore and enhance the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities at our biggest party of the year!

Read more
Guests with FMR Executive Director Whitney Clark.
A writhing mass of … Indiangrass seed?

When things move that shouldn’t it’s a cause for investigation. The self-seeding motions of a pile of volunteer-gathered Indiangrass seed caught this FMR ecologist by surprise.

Read more
Senator Katie Sieben joins FMR Board of Directors

We are pleased to announce that Katie Sieben has joined the FMR Board of Directors. Katie grew up just steps from the Mississippi River in Newport and until recently served as a leading environmental legislator in both the Minnesota House and Senate. 

Read more
Earthworms invade our forest floor

When people think about phenology, the study of natural phenomena and cycles, they usually look up. We tend to focus on events like bud break, bird migration, leaf fall, etc. But what about the changes going on beneath our feet? Looking down once in a while may help you familiarize yourself with the buzz of activity underfoot, including the effects of one particularly damaging invasive species: earthworms.

Read more
A field assistant prepares to collect a nightcrawler for analysis as part of an earthworm sampling project in Minnesota forests.
DNR supports key FMR-sought protections for metro river corridor

During the final phase of developing updated rules for the Mississippi River Critical Area, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources recommended a number of positive changes in response to comments from FMR staff and advocates.

Read more
Creating 'Prairie Park'

Two phrases not often used together are “prairie planting” and “oil refinery,” but many years ago employees at the St. Paul Park Refinery noticed a small patch of native prairie on company property and they've been taking care of it ever since. Recently, they worked with FMR to expand the natural area and also install a demonstration garden, hoping to inspire even more native plantings for pollinators.

Read more
Earthworms invade our forest floor

When people think about natural seasonal changes, we usually look up — bud break, bird migration, leaf change, etc. But what about the natural world under our feet? There's a buzz of activity, including the effects of one particularly damaging invasive species: earthworms. >>

Read more
Thanks to Kool 108 for spreading the word about FMR!
Have you heard the KOOL 108 Friends of the Mississippi River broadcasts? Many thanks to DJ Jeff Olsen, iHeartRadio and Comcast!

Read more
Blazing blooms!

July and August are the most flowerful months in our native prairies and wetlands. Enjoy a few of the beauties FMR ecologists have recently come across in their field work.

Read more
Arrowhead flowers

Pages

Upcoming Events

November 1 - 20, 2025
Online
Three options: October 20, October 28, November 22, 2025
Hidden Falls Regional Park, St. Paul
Thursday, December 4, 2025 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
F-O-K Studios, St. Paul

Our River Campaign:
It all starts here

At the heart of this new campaign is the vision of a healthy Mississippi River.