In the Media
FMR is proud to serve as the voice for the Mississippi River and the people who care about it — at the Capitol, in our communities and in the media. Many thanks to the reporters who take the time to cover important river issues.
Without inspecting the cutoff wall at St. Anthony Falls, we don't know what state it's in and how close it might be to breach or collapse. This article outlines the history of renewed interest in the wall and quotes FMR board member John Anfinson on why this uncertainty is a problem.
A three-story wall runs beneath the Mississippi River and keeps St. Anthony Falls from collapsing. This "cutoff wall" is essential for drinking water and our riverfront, but it's nearly 150 years old and hasn't been inspected since its construction. FMR board member John Anfinson explains why we're advocating for study funding at the Capitol.
For our 30th anniversary, this profile looks back to FMR's beginnings and spotlights our current work with clean-water crops, land restoration, river rules and more.
In 1988, the public showed overwhelming support for directing a significant percentage of Minnesota Lottery funds to environmental projects. That dedication will expire in 2025 — unless state lawmakers give voters the opportunity to renew it. FMR is mentioned both as a recipient of funding and an advocate for its rightful use.
FMR Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman writes an editorial on the urgent need to study the underground wall holding up St. Anthony Falls.
FMR Executive Director Whitney Clark speaks to the need for legislative action to fund a deterrent that would slow the spread of invasive carp on the Mississippi River.
At a DNR roundtable in January, Friends of the Mississippi River Executive Director Whitney Clark talked about the possibility of stopping invasive carp with a bioacoustics fish fence at Lock and Dam 5.
How will the long-awaited RiversEdge development project in St. Paul conflict with potential new river rules around building height? FMR Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman weighs in.
Road salt has contributed to an increase of chloride in waters by more than a third since the late 1980s. This widely republished article investigates the harms and the solutions, citing FMR's State of the River Report.
From Granite Falls to River Falls to the metro Mississippi, communities are considering dam removal and the benefits for water quality and wildlife it could bring. Hong cites Friends of the Mississippi River's engagement efforts and educational resources.
We helped plan a tour of Minnesota pea protein business PURIS for lawmakers and researchers. Gatherings like these can show us the path forward for clean-water crops and continuous living cover.
As the Army Corps of Engineers begins its study about the future of two Twin Cities locks and dams, organizations and community members are weighing in. FMR Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman talks about the possibilities we see around dam removal and the questions we still have.
FMR Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman weighs in on the latest designs for the River Learning Center — a new headquarters for our national park and an education and recreational center on the river.
The North Loop Neighborhood Association has a new stocked toolbox for restoration volunteers to work at James Rice Park on their own time. FMR Conservation Director Alex Roth is quoted on the importance of managing the area for the river.
FMR has long tended the rain garden at Sheridan Memorial Park. At an event this fall, volunteers pulled invasive plants, and Alex Roth discussed further restoration possibilities.
