Stewardship

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.

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.

'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.)

In the Media

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June 15, 2016

by Alex Roth

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June 13, 2016

With restoration work at the William H. Houlton Conservation Area slated to start this fall, students from the local Elk River Senior High School have begun to collect baseline data to help FMR track the restoration's impact on local amphibians, plants, trees and aquatic invertebrates.

Gathering invertebrates, indicators of water quality

'Rebirth: The Mississippi's National Park' (Video)

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May 27, 2016

Produced for FMR by award-winning local filmmakers John Kaul and Tom Reiter, and narrated by Minnesota Public Radio's Steve Seel, this 30-minute documentary tells the story of how one man’s vision — combined with smart citizen advocacy and effective political leadership — created the Mississippi River's first and only national park right here in the Twin Cities. Enjoy the film online, request a copy for your local library, school or organization.

by Adam Flett, by Alex Roth, by Amy Kilgore

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May 5, 2016

This unique location blends historic renovation with ecological restoration along today's working river. Learn more about its history, ecology and our first public volunteer event at this riverfront site, Saturday, June 4.