Where do FMR staff visit and explore our metro Mississippi River? We've featured 30 of our favorite places on this map. Be sure to check out the links to guides curated by experience and region below. >>
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Downtown Minneapolis glows above the Mississippi at the end of the Stone Arch Bridge.
December 2018
St. Paul Academy students sample for earthworms, an invasive species in Minnesota, at Crosby Farm Park in St. Paul. Our work there helps us understand the impacts earthworms have on native plant diversity, so we can refine and prioritize our habitat restoration efforts.
FMR has worked to restore over two thousand acres in the Mississippi River's metro watershed. Our hope is that diverse natural communities of plants and wildlife will return and thrive. And so far, our surveys and studies point to a positive connection between our habitat restoration work and the plants and animals our work is meant to support. >>
December 2018
FMR Super Volunteer Allan Tokuda tends native prairie at Ole Olson Park in North Minneapolis. Over 700 people volunteered at FMR projects like this in 2018, contributing more than 3,000 hours to habitat creation, restoration and stewardship. (Photo by Tom Reiter for FMR)
In 2018, volunteers of all ages got their hands dirty with FMR at community events. Together over 700 individuals gave a combined 3,082 hours of service to help protect, enhance and restore the health of the river and our local communities. In gratitude, we've gathered some of our favorite photos from this restoration season. >>
December 2018
FMR was one of 186 national, state and local organizations to thank Congress for strong conservation provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill and urge its timely passage. >>
December 2018
Grey Cloud Island near Cottage Grove is FMR Administrative Assistant Raynette Prince's favorite river place. (Photo by Tom Bell for FMR.)
There are too many special river places to list — far more than 25 — so we'll close out our 25th-anniversary series with a few of our staff's favorite spots: the places we visit for solitude or critter watching or fishing, places that connect us deeply to the river and inspire us to do this work. >>
December 2018
From possible dam removal to ag pollution to poetry projects and our silver anniversary, 2018 was a big year for the river (and FMR) in the news. >>
December 2018
Lead ammunition can poison scavenger birds like bald eagles. The Raptor Center works to save these birds, but the best solution would be for hunters to switch to non-lead bullets. >>
December 2018
Minnesota’s 2019 legislative session is about to begin! A new governor and House await, and FMR and our partners have some exciting new priorities. Here's a brief overview of what FMR and our allies will advocate for, who we'll work with, and how you can help. >>
December 2018
Henslow's sparrow is one of the many bird species our FMR breeding bird surveys found on prairie restoration sites. ("Henslow's sparrow" by Jim Hudgins/USFWS. CC BY 2.0)
Our land conservation team not only restores habitat, but monitors that habitat for wildlife data. After years of conducting breeding bird surveys at our prairie restoration sites, we can now see clear trends in increased number of species, especially species of greatest conservation need. >>
December 2018
Gwen Westerman performs "De Wakpa Taŋka Odowaŋ / Song for the Mississippi River" for our sold-out fall event in 2018. (Photo by Anna Botz)
Read and watch De Wakpa Taŋka Odowaŋ / Song for the Mississippi River, the poem Gwen Westerman wrote and performed for our annual fall event, The River Inspires: An Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River. >>
December 2018