Updates and Articles

St. Anthony Falls disposition plan could threaten Twin Cities' water supply

In recent weeks, the Army Corps declared its intention to seek a new owner for the Upper St. Anthony Falls lock — a risky plan that could put the future of our river and the water supply for a million Twin Cities residents — into the hands of a private corporation. Join us in advocating for a path forward that protects the public's interest and creates public access.  >>

Read more
Research roundup: Is cropland ag carbon sequestration as effective as we want it to be?

Storing greenhouse gases in cropland soils is all the rage these days, as Fortune 500 companies, conservation initiatives and even the Biden administration seek to reward farmers for sequestering carbon beneath our feet. But how sound is this approach? We pulled together some of the latest news about no-till farming, cover crops and how effectively these practices sequester carbon.  >>

Read more
Meet our new youth coordinator

Longtime youth coordinator Kate Clayton recently stepped down from her position after more than seven years of service to FMR. She leaves a legacy of inspiring many thousands of youth, volunteers and educators, and equipping them with knowledge and skills to enhance and protect our river and watershed. Ashley O'Neill Prado will be promoted to youth coordinator in March.  >>

Read more
Ashley, Kate
Where we work: Vermillion Falls Park

At the stunning waterfall after which this park is named, the Vermillion River drops 35 feet, then runs through limestone gorge and forest. We've been managing habitat restoration here since 2019.  >>

Read more
Why insects matter and what you can do about their decline

In the past few years, news of the decline of insect populations has raised alarm bells. Experts say the world is losing around 1 to 2 percent of its insects each year. By now, most people know pollinators are vital to making about a third of our food supply. But what about all the other insects — does this overall population decrease matter?  >>

Read more
Minneapolis agrees to environmental review before key UHT vote

Community advocates recently secured a big victory: Minneapolis leaders committed to an environmental review of its riverfront Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment plan before voting on the project.  >>

Read more
MinnPost: UHT plan elicits mixed reactions

A recent MinnPost article about the Upper Harbor Terminal redevelopment in North Minneapolis highlights the wide range of opinions among residents who have been closely involved in the project. Many of them share our concern: Will this project really deliver equity for Northsiders?  >>

Read more
Minnesota gets a bad report card for nitrate reduction (part two)

How do we get a better grade for nitrate pollution reduction? We have to change the mix of what we grow. In this follow-up, we explain why it isn't feasible to rely on incentive payments to farmers alone to move the needle on our water quality problems. And we offer an exciting solution that could improve water quality by AND sustain farmers' livelihoods.  >>

Read more
Saving the baby AND the bathwater: New hope for a sensible Clean Water Rule

Back in 2019, the Trump administration adopted new regulations that significantly undermine how our nation's public water supplies are protected. Now, an independent review has found that the federal government's decision-making process was fundamentally flawed. Will the Biden administration reverse the rollbacks?  >>

Read more
MRCCA riverfront protections update: You made a difference!

Minneapolis is the first city with a new ordinance to guide riverfront development and protections, and thanks to our collective advocacy, their ordinance includes provisions for migrating birds. Will St. Paul and other communities follow suit?  >>

Read more

Pages

Upcoming Events

Thursday, September 24, 2026 - 5:00pm
Nicollet Island Pavilion, Minneapolis
Tuesday, September 29, 2026 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Along the Vermillion River, Hastings
Apply now for spring through summer program
Sites in Elk River, Hastings or Inver Grove Heights

Take Me to the River 

Celebrate the Mississippi River and choose your own adventure while supporting FMR at our reimagined fall fundraiser on Thursday, Sept. 24.