Land Conservation

Land Conservation
FMR bids farewell to longtime Conservation Director Tom Lewanski
September 13, 2017

Bill Clinton was President, Arne Carlson was Minnesota’s governor, Michael Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to a sixth NBA championship and Google was founded in a California garage, but the big news in 1998 was that Tom Lewanski was hired as FMR's first conservation director. After more than 19 years of outstanding service to FMR and our great river — having protected or restored 2,800 acres of prairie, forest, wetlands and other natural areas — Tom is leaving. 

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Thank you Tom Lewanski
A virtual invasive plant species walk with FMR ecologists
by Alex Roth
August 7, 2017

Ever wonder what keeps FMR ecologists up at night? Buckthorn and crown vetch may have pretty glossy leaves or flowers, but for anyone who cares about wildlife, they're a serious threat to forest and prairie habitat in the metro river corridor.

Join FMR ecologist Alex Roth for a walk through our most common invasives: buckthorn, bush honeysuckle, garlic mustard, burdock, spotted knapweed and crown vetch. Along the way, you'll learn why they matter and how to identify and remove them in your own back yard. All in two minutes!

Thank you Tom Reiter and Will Stock for creating this wonderful video!

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'Don't worry, I come in peace!' Meet the one-of-a-kind pelecinid wasp
by Tom Lewanski
July 12, 2017

Of the 18,000 species of ants, bees and wasps in North America, the pelecinid wasp is among the most interesting. This insect is so unusual it shares its family (Pelecinidae) with just three other species in the world, with no others in North America. But don't worry, that 'stinger' isn't what it looks like. >>

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Saying goodbye to a dear friend, Tecla Karpen
by Tom Lewanski
June 21, 2017
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Tecla Karpen and students in "Karpen Woods"
Losing our cottonwoods: What’s at stake?
by Karen Schik
November 7, 2016

A key species of floodplain forests, Eastern Cottonwood trees aren't regenerating naturally in the floodplains. FMR ecologists and volunteers are using cottonwood cuttings or live stakes to re-establish a floodplain forest in Hastings.

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Installing cottonwood live stakes in the floodplain forest near Hastings
Seeds for stewardship: Volunteers collect native prairie seed at Heritage Park
by Adam Flett
October 14, 2016

A flourishing prairie. Dozens of volunteers. Fall colors. Heaps of seed collected for future restoration efforts. Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped collect native seed — and to photographer Rich Wahls for capturing such a lovely morning working for the river!

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Habitat restoration volunteers collecting native seed in the prairie.
A writhing mass of … Indiangrass seed?
by Karen Schik
October 7, 2016

When things move that shouldn’t it’s a cause for investigation. The self-seeding motions of a pile of volunteer-gathered Indiangrass seed caught this FMR ecologist by surprise.

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Upcoming Events

Educators: Bring FMR to your students
This school year
In your classroom or outside
Webinar + Q&A: 'Sustainable Aviation Fuel: How Minnesota can get it right.'
Thursday, January 16, 2025 - 6:00pm to 7:00pm
Virtual
Brush haul and bonfire at Rosemount Preserve and North 20 Brewing, Rosemount
Saturday, January 18, 2025 - 10:00am to 12:00pm
Rosemount Wildlife Preserve and North 20 Brewing, Rosemount

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