Train silhouette over the river in Hastings by Tom Reiter
Write to the River — Summer 2017 call for submissions

Latest News

FMR and allies urge Governor Dayton to veto Environment Budget Bill

Send Governor Dayton a message asking him to veto the Environment budget Bill.

Following a disappointing and chaotic end to the 2015 legislative session, the conservation community is asking Governor Dayton to veto a highly controversial environmental bill. The bill makes deep cuts to environmental spending (24.3%), contains numerous rollbacks to environmental policies, and includes last-minute language violating a universal agreement on biofuels policy.

While the legislature's compromise on a modest stream buffer proposal was among several positive outcomes this year, funding for both the buffer initiative and UofM Forever Green cover crop research failed to pass before the clock ran out. As a result, a special session is almost certain to be scheduled in the coming weeks.

By Trevor Russell
May 2015

Did Minnesota's watersheds just fail their midterms?

Minnesota's recently released report, "Swimmable, fishable, fixable? What we’ve learned so far about Minnesota waters", highlights Minnesota's watersheds at the halfway point of our 10-year monitoring cycle. The results show that about half of Minnesota's waters are unfit for safe swimming and fishing.

By Trevor Russell
May 2015

Wanted: June prairie & woodland volunteers

Last year, FMR volunteers installed over 5,000 native prairie and woodland plants. These ecological powerhouses filter pollution, reduce erosion and provide much-needed pollinator, bird and wildlife habitat. Join us at one of several June tending events to help these young plants make it through the summer!

May 2015

FMR appeals oversized building at Mississippi & Minnesota River confluence

On April 24, 2015, the Saint Paul Planning Commission approved a height variance of 33.5 additional feet for Johnson Brothers’ proposed mixed-use building at 1465 Davern Street which lies within the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area and the National Park boundary. FMR appealed this decision on May 4, 2015 because this development will significantly impact the scenic and historic character of the river valley at the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers.

By Alicia Uzarek
May 2015

City of Fridley earns the Blue Star Award

Congratulations to the City of Fridley for earning the Blue Star Award for Excellence in Stormwater Management!

By Alicia Uzarek
May 2015

Healthcare antibacterials earn FDA scrutiny

Prompted by a federal lawsuit, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced plans to review the safety and efficacy of antibacterial products (including environmentally risky antibacterial soap) used in the medical industry.

By Trevor Russell
May 2015

Whose view? From where? — May 2015

Each month in this section, we feature a photo somewhere along the river corridor in the Twin Cities that is in some way significant or important or just plain scenic. Individuals may then email us and identify the view and explain why they believe it is significant to the community or important to them personally.

May 2015

May: Serviceberry

This large shrub is a great landscaping plant to attract birds.

By Tom Lewanski
May 2015

Make & Take Rain Barrel Workshop (Just $35) [FULL]

What's one of the simplest, high-impact ways to save water and help protect our watershed? Using a rain barrel.

May 2015

Bold leadership from Governor Dayton on buffers

Governor Dayton's proposal to establish shoreland buffers along all Minnesota waters will provide habitat for numerous species and pay dividends in improving water quality.
By Whitney Clark
April 2015

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