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.

Northeaster ― April 5, 2023
by Colleen O'Connor Toberman

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.

Star Tribune ― April 1, 2023
by Dennis Anderson

What will the state’s waterways look like if legislators and agency leaders don’t approve an invasive carp barrier this session? Acclaimed Star Tribune outdoors columnist Dennis Anderson paints a distressing picture.

Republican Eagle ― March 31, 2023
by Melissa Thorud

Reporter Melissa Thorud says increasing numbers of invasive carp “could have an impact on the tourism that the river brings to small river towns.” The article notes that FMR encourages community members to get involved and advocate a barrier to their legislators.

Outdoor News ― March 29, 2023
by Brian Mozey

About the bill that would allow work to start on an invasive carp deterrent to prevent their further upstream spread, Colleen O’Connor Toberman said, "We don’t have time to waste. There is no plan B.”

FOX 9 ― March 23, 2023
by Melissa Turtinen

FOX 9 quotes Colleen O’Connor Toberman on the latest invasive carp catch: "We needed a barrier yesterday."  

KARE 11 ― March 23, 2023
by Dana Thiede

FMR's Colleen O’Connor Toberman talks about the cost of dealing with invasive carp spread versus a proactive approach.

Star Tribune ― March 23, 2023
by Greg Stanley

FMR's Colleen O’Connor Toberman explains how the catch underscores the urgency to  fund a deterrent for invasive carp.

Outdoor News ― March 9, 2023
by Brian Mozey

FMR's Colleen O’Connor Toberman and Whitney Clark explain our urgent push for legislative funding for a bioacoustic fish fence during the current session.

Big River Magazine ― March 1, 2023
Tall is okay?

FMR Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman explains how the downtown context of the proposed RiversEdge development affects the standards for building height.

MinnPost ― February 10, 2023
by Bill Lindeke

Chloride pollution comes largely from road salt washing off into waterways. FMR's State of the River Report is quoted here, showing 40 Twin Cities water bodies exceeding chloride water quality standards, and another 40 that may soon be “impaired” — unable to support life.

West Central Tribune ― February 3, 2023
by Tom Cherveny

Why choose Lock and Dam 5 for a carp barrier? This article quotes FMR Executive Director Whitney Clark on the factors that would make it an effective site to prevent the spread of invasive carp.

Pioneer Press ― January 28, 2023
by Dennis Anderson

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.

Outdoor News ― January 26, 2023
by Brian Mozey

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.

Pioneer Press ― January 20, 2023
by Frederick Melo

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.

MinnPost ― January 17, 2023
by Madeline Heim

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.

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