Updates and Articles

St. Paul finalizes its riverfront regulations

December 10, 2025

St. Paul's long-delayed Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area ordinance is finally complete! Here's what's in it — and how our River Guardians helped. Read more

A record-breaking year for River Guardian advocates

December 9, 2025

River Guardians sent a record number of messages to decision-makers in 2025, advancing legislative wins, riverfront protections and more. Read more

Celebrating FMR's 2025 volunteers and young river stewards

December 4, 2025

Our highlights from this year's community stewardship and education programming. Read more

Thank you for joining us at Art for the River!

December 2, 2025

Over 100 guests joined us for the opening reception of Our River: Mississippi Muse at the F-O-K Studio’s third-floor gallery. This is FMR's first juried art exhibition, featuring 18 river-inspired pieces. Read more

Winter tips: How to safely salt your sidewalk and protect the river

December 1, 2025

Minnesota uses a lot of road and sidewalk salt, and our waters are paying the price. Check out our winter maintenance and salting tips, and sign our petition to support smart salting measures. Read more

A pile of deicing salt piled along a sidewalk in winter.

FMR volunteer monarch monitoring results show restoration successes

November 17, 2025

Monarchs have migrated south, and our Pollinator Evaluation Program volunteers have wrapped up their first season of monitoring. Here's what they found. Read more

Keeping the river front of mind in Minnesota's climate change plan

November 11, 2025

We’ve already seen improvements to the state's climate change plan as a direct result of our feedback, setting up stronger river protections for the years ahead. Read more

A view from above of the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge

Where we work: Harmon Park Reserve and Salem Hills Park

November 10, 2025

Four miles of trails wind through this pair of Inver Grove Heights parks that feature cropland turned prairie, acres of restored savanna, towering oak, maple and basswood trees and a pond that draws wildlife to its waters. Read more

3 paddling routes to try, inspired by our 'Paddle, restore and learn' series

November 6, 2025

A trio of free FMR events combined paddling with education and restoration. From a primer on clean-water crops in a former soybean field-turned prairie to a fishing intro on an oxbow lake in Hastings, these outings weren't typical volunteer events. Read more

Kayaker volunteers with paddles on the river shore

Cottage Grove allows riverbed mine proposal to advance

November 6, 2025

The Cottage Grove City Council recently approved the environmental review for a riverbed mine next to Lower Grey Cloud Island. FMR and many others still believe that this mine would have major negative impacts — and it might not be legal. Read more