Updates and Articles

Minneapolis residents: Act now to protect your riverfront!

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

September 15, 2020

The city of Minneapolis is taking public comments on its new ordinance to guide riverfront development and land management. The ordinance has a lot of strengths, but we'd like to see more protections for birds along this crucial migratory flyway.

Learn more by reading FMR's analysis or attending our upcoming virtual Q&A. >>

2020 Youth Empowerment Program final projects

by Sophie Downey

September 14, 2020

This year, participants in our Youth Empowerment Program tackled issues of environmental justice, microplastics, climate change and more. Enjoy a selection of their final projects. >>

State’s Groundwater Protection Rule now in full effect

by Trevor Russell

September 10, 2020

As noted in a recent MPR News story, Minnesota farm operators will no longer be allowed to apply nitrogen fertilizer in the fall or on frozen ground above Minnesota’s most vulnerable aquifers. While that means cleaner drinking water for many Minnesotans, this rule alone won't solve our nitrate pollution problems. >>

State & Strib connect the dots between crops and water health

by sue rich

September 8, 2020

The Star Tribune recently covered a report that underscores the connection between water quality and the need to alter what we plant in Minnesota's farm fields. But this report wasn't issued by the usual suspects — now the state is actively calling for profitable clean-water crops. >>

A field ecology internship in the time of COVID-19

by Karen Schik

September 7, 2020

Our summer intern Michaela Hackbarth reflects on the gray catbird's call, how field work requires great people skills, and the expansive feeling at FMR habitat restoration sites. >>

Your sightings critical for year two of coyote and fox research project

by Ellie Rogers

September 7, 2020

How are wild canids adapting to urban areas? Help researchers find out more this fall and winter, get a project update from the first field season, and learn how to identify and differentiate gray foxes, red foxes and coyotes with our guide, so you can record your sightings. >>

Public comment sought for new Pig's Eye islands

by Alex Roth

September 4, 2020

The Star Tribune recently covered the island-building project at Pig's Eye Lake in East Side St. Paul's riverfront park. As our executive director Whitney Clark stated in the article, FMR supports the project overall, and would also like to see project planners "really consider including climate-adaptive species and use this opportunity to understand more about habitat restoration in the era of climate change." >>

A seagull made of plastic: The threat of plastics in our waters

September 3, 2020

Audrey, a summer Youth Empowerment Program participant, wanted to make the threat of microplastics in freshwater visible through art. She crafted her seagull sculpture using plastic she found during just half an hour at a Lake Superior beach. >>

Mapping for environmental justice in the Twin Cities

September 3, 2020

Curran, a Youth Empowerment Program participant, used data and mapping skills to visualize environmental injustice across Minneapolis and St. Paul. >>

Metro communities begin adopting new river protections

by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

September 2, 2020

Metro-area cities and townships are beginning to adopt new baseline riverfront protections. Is your city is on the list of communities writing their ordinances this fall? Find out how you can shape river rules based on your community's values and priorities. One example: Minneapolis might require bird-safe measures for new riverfront construction, since migrating songbirds are especially vulnerable to collisions in cities on the Mississippi flyway. >>