Updates and Articles

Locks and dam meetings draw a crowd

The Army Corps of Engineers is currently considering options to repurpose or maintain the Upper St. Anthony lock. A second part of this same study, beginning next year, will look at removing Lower St. Anthony Falls and the Ford dam. Over 100 people went to the first public input meetings about this study, including us. Missed them? Learn what we learned and weigh in with written comments by October 20.  >>  

Read more
What's it like to walk to the river in North Minneapolis?

What's it like to walk to the river in Minneapolis? "Inspiring," "harsh" and "beautiful" were all words that neighbors used as we laced up our walking shoes and headed to the river on a warm fall evening. Check out the photos and step-by-step videos to experience what it's like to walk from the North Minneapolis residential area over Dowling and the interstate to Upper Harbor Terminal and the river! >>

Read more
Action Alert: Oppose the redevelopment plan for the Upper Harbor Terminal [CLOSED]
Minneapolis residents, take action here. >> Read more
MPR: UN study says don’t worry about microplastics in drinking water – much

Minnesota Public Radio recently highlighted a World Health Organization study on microplastics in drinking water. The conclusion: “…levels of microplastics in drinking water don't appear to be risky, but that research has been spotty and more is needed into their effects on the environment and health.”  >>
 

Read more
Check out our conservation blog!

Endangered species, fishers, fields of monarchs — FMR ecologists encounter them all at our 37 habitat restoration sites.  

On our new conservation blog, learn more about what our ecologists see in the field, the special places we're working to protect and how we restore habitat. >>

Read more
Endangered speces at FMR sites
The rusty patched bumblebee: What’s all the buzz about?

A lone male rusty patched bumblebee found in August at an FMR-restored savanna represents 0.2 percent of the known population worldwide. Necessary not only for native wildflower reproduction, but also for creating seeds and fruits that feed wildlife as diverse as songbirds and bears, our state bee could use your help. >>

Read more
FMR presents an evening with American Routes' Nick Spitzer and WCCO's Jearlyn Steele October 2019

An Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River on October 3 will feature public radio’s producer of "American Routes" Nick Spitzer who will take us on a journey from the headwaters down south to the mouth through music and storytelling. WCCO's Jearlyn Steele returns to the stage as our emcee>>

Read more
An Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River featuring Nick Spitzer and Jearlyn Steel
FMR graduates its first Youth Empowerment Program participants

Through canoe trips, guest speakers, pollinator surveys and more this summer, we worked with high-school aged youth from the metro area to explore career possibilities and build skills in the environmental field. Learn more about our new Youth Empowerment Program and see these leaders' capstone projects (which included monarchs, jars of river water, and even a baby painted turtle).  >>

Read more
One of the program participants removes invasive species on a rainy day at Trout Brook Nature Sanctuary
It's monarch migration season!

Fall brings chances to spot monarch roosts — dozens of butterflies gathering together on their migration south. FMR ecologist Karen Schik found hundreds earlier this week and sent these videos back from a visit to our prairie restoration at Pine Bend Bluffs in Inver Grove Heights. >>

Read more
FMR's ecologists investigate how to suppress buckthorn

As anyone who's joined FMR at a restoration volunteer event knows, buckthorn is particularly difficult to eradicate. This invasive plant often thwarts restoration efforts by returning to sites where it's been pulled and hauled away. What if we could find a way to suppress its regrowth?  >>

Read more

Pages

Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 27, 2025 - 10:30am to 1:00pm OR 2:30pm to 5:00pm
Magnolia Blossom Paddle Boat, St. Paul
Wednesday, October 1, 2025 - 5:00pm to 7:00pm
Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area, Cottage Grove
Saturday, October 4, 2025 - 9:00am to 12:00pm
Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area at the Flint Hills Resources property, Inver Grove Heights

Our River Campaign:
It all starts here

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