Stewardship

Thank you, volunteers! Plus, the best photos from our 2016 event season

by Amy Kilgore

December 9, 2016

The number of Twin Citians passionate about the Mississippi River never ceases to amaze us. In 2016, over 3,700 people pitched in at 98 FMR volunteer events. It was an honor to work with each of you.

Whether you spent a couple of hours picking up trash with us on Earth Day, hauled brush on a Saturday morning, took the "pledge to pull" this spring, or earned full FMR SuperVolunteer status participating in several events throughout the year, thank you!

And please enjoy a few of our favorite photos from the 2016 event season.

Volunteers planting native shrubs along the River Gorge

A banner year for FMR's youngest river stewards

by Kate Clayton

November 15, 2016

This year, youth from throughout the metro river corridor helped us educate Twin Citians about the connection between our homes and streets to the river, restore important natural areas, and research what works best for local ecological restoration projects. Despite all the thunderstorms, 2016 was a fantastic year for FMR youth programs and accomplishments.

American Indian Magnet School students help with a cleanup

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!

Habitat restoration volunteers collecting native seed in the prairie.

'State of the River' along the Minneapolis River Gorge

September 29, 2016

The "State of the River Report" presentation is coming to south Minneapolis! Join FMR Water Program Director Trevor Russell to learn about the health of the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River.

Landscape for the River Workshop: Native Plants, Raingardens, Lawn Care for Water Quality (+ Winter Tips)

September 6, 2016

Volunteers plant pollinator patches aplenty

by Adam Flett

August 8, 2016

What can a small planting of milkweed and other natives really do for pollinators? More than you might think.

Hastings Environmental Protectors and FMR teamed up to create three new pollinator patches, helping to provide much-needed habitat for a variety of insect and pollinating species in the Vermillion and Mississippi river watersheds.

An FMR Vermillion Stewards volunteer plants a pollinator patch.

Endangered species recovery at FMR restoration sites

by Alex Roth

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!