Updates and Articles

A good sign for habitat: Hastings high schoolers make their mark in the park

by Ellie Rogers

June 11, 2019

Vermillion River Linear Park is a 60-acre prairie in the heart of Hastings that FMR has worked with students for years to restore. These high school students wanted to make sure passersby knew about the boon to wildlife and water quality right in their backyard. >>

Rain, rain, go away: river flooding continues

by Peter LaFontaine

June 11, 2019

Tired of all of the rainstorms yet? This year has been a historically wet and flood-prone year, impacting cities, towns and farms across the Midwest. In this news roundup, find out what's happening and why it matters. >>

Welcome, Peter — our new agricultural policy manager

by Trevor Russell

June 11, 2019

Bringing a decade of experience in environmental advocacy and campaign management, Peter LaFontaine will coordinate our agricultural clean-water advocacy efforts in our newest position at FMR. >>

New podcast features FMR ecologist and invasive earthworms

by Alex Roth

June 11, 2019

Three Rivers Park District's new podcast, The Wandering Naturalist, covers fun Minnesota ecology topics from tracking owls to maple syruping. In this episode, FMR ecologist Alex Roth joined the conversation about the effects of invasive buckthorn and earthworms on Minnesota's wildflowers. >>

Safer drinking water is around the bend (for some)

by Peter LaFontaine

June 10, 2019

As reported by the Star Tribune, new limits on farm fertilizer will benefit human health and wildlife. It's a huge step for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, but is the state doing enough to protect our drinking water and the Mississippi River? >>

New podcast features FMR ecologist and invasive earthworms

by Alex Roth

June 7, 2019

Stormwater mural celebrates water at Lake Phalen

by Kate Clayton

June 5, 2019

On the bridge near the pavilion at Lake Phalen, if you look down, you’ll see a new mural. On June 1 at WaterFest, lead artist Liv Novotny and assistant artist Violeta Rotstein led volunteers to paint this beautiful reminder that all roads lead to our waters. >>

Artists work on the 2019 stormwater mural at Lake Phalen

It's a wrap. How FMR’s priorities fared in the 2019 session

by Trevor Russell

May 29, 2019

The 2019 Legislative Session kicked on in January with Governor Walz presiding over the only divided state legislature in the nation.

This led to some core disagreements, missed deadlines and an assorted bag of victories and compromises for Minnesota's environment and the Mississippi River.

Here’s a brief summary of the major items we were tracking, and how each turned out. >>

How the Environment Bill fared this session

by Trevor Russell

May 29, 2019

Overall, the legislative session resulted in modest additional funding for some of our top priorities while many of the worst provisions were dropped. Along with our allies, we are deeply grateful to the FMR River Guardians who consistently demonstrated their strong support for the river and healthy lands and waters for all Minnesota communities. Learn more about which FMR priorities made it, which did not, and where we go from here. >>

River access, wildlife habitat, year-round recreation: Cottage Grove’s unique opportunity

by Betsy Daub

May 25, 2019

The City of Cottage Grove has the opportunity to turn an old golf course into open space for wildlife and a recreational park for residents and visitors in an area lacking in river access. Here are our top reasons why we should protect this special place from development. >>