restoration

"Is it good or bad?" Rethinking language around invasive species

September 14, 2022

A deep dive into the term "invasive species" — species that spread rapidly, or species out of place — plus how we can revise the value judgments we place on them. Read more

William H. Houlton Conservation Area

June 14, 2022

At the William H. Houlton Conservation Area — one of the largest undeveloped riverfront properties in the metro — we're restoring 160 acres of soybean field and grazed grasslands into prairie and oak savanna, plus stewarding over 150 acres of upland and floodplain forest at the confluence of the Elk and Mississippi rivers. >>

How can we reduce buckthorn and preserve native plants? The results are in!

by Karen Schik

March 25, 2022

In 2018, we started a three-year research project at Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area to find out which methods of buckthorn control best protect and encourage native plants. And now the results are in! >>

Meet five new FMR restoration sites

March 13, 2022

Our ecologists actively restore and maintain habitat at more than 30 sites across the metro region. But we're always looking for additional projects that can support wildlife, protect our water and increase climate resilience. In 2021, we added five new restoration projects totaling 273 acres to our restoration portfolio. >>

Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary / Wakáŋ Tipi

March 4, 2022

Beside riverfront railroads and beneath blufftop Dakota burial mounds, this St. Paul natural area is a sacred place. We're partnering with Native-led Lower Phalen Creek Project to restore its habitat with culturally important practices and plants to better honor the site's history and ongoing importance to Dakota people. >>

Measuring success: recent pollinator surveys at FMR-restored prairies

by Karen Schik, by Alex Roth

February 7, 2022

Just as our breeding bird surveys have shown more birds and more species using FMR-restored prairies, our latest pollinator surveys further demonstrate the wildlife benefits of restored habitats. >>

River Oaks Park

December 3, 2021

A tiny 2-acre remnant bedrock bluff prairie in Cottage Grove holds mighty habitat diversity and offers stunning 180-degree views of the Mississippi River and its surroundings. >>