FMR Updates

Shovels in the ground for three new river destinations

by Irene Jones

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November 16, 2017

Three new destinations are beginning to take shape along the river north of St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, each with something different to offer. Coming up: a reclaimed island (image above), a destination riverfront restaurant, and one fully featured playground. >>

A shocking, long-awaited outing — The 2017 volunteer trout survey

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November 14, 2017

“It’s been three years of cancellations with high water in the river and getting rained out," said volunteer Tom Ziegler with a smile. "They [FMR] dangle this carrot when we do the buckthorn removal across the road, that if we did that job, we would get to do this event.”

Well, 2017 was finally the year. >>

State studies confirm: 40 percent of MN lakes and rivers are polluted

by Trevor Russell

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November 13, 2017

In the land of 10,000 lakes, about 40 percent of Minnesota’s waters fail to meet basic health standards according to a pair of new state water quality reports — with our namesake river, the Minnesota, among the most polluted. >>

Lake Pepin along the Mississippi River, impaired for excess nutrients

How Minnesota almost lost its wild turkeys

by Alex Roth

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November 13, 2017

A big new prairie is on the way!

by Alex Roth

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November 13, 2017

It's not every day that FMR ecologists get to convert 180 acres of soybean and farm fields back to native prairie. Sure, we return park lawns and buckthorn thickets to prairie every year, but individual project sites rarely crack the 100-acre mark.

So we're especially excited about beginning the large-scale transformation at the William H. Houlton Conservation Area in Elk River. Check out some photos from the first steps of creating this much-needed pollinator and wildlife habitat at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi rivers!

The farm field at the William H Houlton Conservation Area about to be turned into prairie

Thank you, Kala and Annie!

by Karen Schik

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November 9, 2017

Surveying wildlife, supporting events, braving mosquitoes — Kala Peebles and Annie Dubner were indispensable and indefatigable throughout the 2017 field season. >>

Thank you, young river stewards!

by Kate Clayton

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November 7, 2017

Together, they stenciled over 2,000 storm drains with educational messages, collected trash throughout Twin Cities parks, and helped not only restore habitat along the river but research the best ways to keep it healthy in the future. They are FMR's youth volunteers, and their contributions are legion. >>