FMR Updates

Endangered species recovery at FMR restoration sites

by Alex Roth

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August 8, 2016

Plant and animal populations decline for many reasons — habitat loss, climate change, pollution and other factors. The Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973 to prevent the decline and extinction of at-risk species and aid their recovery. At FMR, one of the ways we can best benefit endangered species is through the enhancement or restoration of native habitat. FMR’s many restoration sites do just that, providing much-needed habitat for both common and endangered plants and animals.

While the Endangered Species Act has benefitted countless species, we’d like to think our restorations have as well. We've spotted three endangered species — loggerhead shrike, Blanchard's cricket frog and Henslow's sparrow — at our sites so far this year!

A trio of endangered species recently found at FMR conservation and restoration sites.

We've moved to a new downtown St. Paul location

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August 3, 2016

'Rebirth: The Mississippi's National Park' on TPT-MN!

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July 25, 2016

Once a dumping ground, now a national park: the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River.

Beer release party for '72 Stretch'

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July 20, 2016

Join us at Fulton Taproom on Tuesday, August 2, beginning at 5 p.m. to celebrate the release of 72 Stretch, a limited-edition Fulton gose brew benefiting Friends of the Mississippi River.

City of Elk River earns Blue Star Award

by Alicia Uzarek

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July 11, 2016

Congratulations to the City of Elk River for earning the Blue Star Award for Excellence in Stormwater Management!

'State of the River Report' Launch + Presentation

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July 7, 2016

How is the health of the Mississippi River? Can I safely swim in it? Is water pollution improving? Can I eat the fish I catch? What can we do about Asian carp? Do I need to be concerned about bacteria in the river? How are bald eagles faring?

At FMR we hear questions like these all the time. That's why we've partnered with the National Park Service's Mississippi National River & Recreation Area unit (MNRRA) to update "State of the River Report," first released in 2012, for a current look at the river.

Join us for the highly anticipated release of the updated "State of the River Report" at the Science Museum of Minnesota, Thursday, September 22! (Tickets are free but capacity is limited.)

Brown-Bag Lunch: Reconnecting North Mpls to the Mighty Mississippi

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June 30, 2016

As more North Minneapolis riverfront is slated to become parkland, it's important to ensure that new parks and trails are truly accessible to Northside residents. To do this, connections between the community and the riverfront parkland (such as the Broadway bridge over I-94, pictured above) must be improved.

FMR has been working with a researcher from CURA to study Northsiders’ barriers to river access as well as possible ways to overcome them. Join us for a brown-bag lunch featuring a presentation of our findings and discussion about the barriers and opportunities to reconnect North Minneapolis neighborhoods and the Mississippi River.