How can I get involved?
Update: January 2026
By late 2025, all 25 cities and townships in the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area completed the process of adopting updated critical area ordinances. This accomplishment is thanks to FMR River Guardians and supporters for nearly two decades of advocacy. Learn more about how these improved rules protect the metro Mississippi.
March 3, 2020
Protecting our riverfront together
As our 25 metro river cities and townships craft new rules for land use and development throughout our metro Mississippi, FMR is proud to serve as a resource for metro river city planners, local decisionmakers and everyday residents.
Every river corridor community will welcome public involvement in its ordinance development process. We have tips and materials to help you connect with your city leaders--and to get your neighbors involved, too.
How can I get involved in ordinance adoption?
Residents and community leaders helped advocate for and pass the legislation requiring these updated and improved riverfront rules and continue to play an important role today.
This video has more information about when and how you and your neighbors can help your city adopt strong rules that protect the river.
To watch full-screen, hit 'play' then click the square in the lower right corner. (Transcript available here.)
Sign up to be a River Guardian and we’ll let you know when your city is developing their rules and how you can weigh in for the river. You’ll receive invitations to:
- FMR workshops to learn more
- Quickly and easily contact your elected officials
- Speak at a public meeting
- Submit written comments or sign a petition
- Engage your friends and neighbors
Resources for city leaders
We're here to support our riverfront cities and townships. We're happy to help a city planner navigate technical nuances or by supporting a community member who wants to speak at a public meeting but isn't sure where to start.
Here's a handout for city staff and other decisionmakers: In-depth MRCCA overview.
We also encourage you to contact FMR Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman, ctoberman@fmr.org, 651.222.2193 x29.
Stay in touch!
Sign up to be a River Guardian and we'll be in touch when there are opportunities to influence your local river rules and important river-related state policies.
Learn more about local riverfront issues in our land use and development blog. Updates are also shared in our e-newsletter, Mississippi Messages.
Questions? Contact FMR Land Use & Planning Program Director Colleen O'Connor Toberman, ctoberman@fmr.org, 651.477.0923.