Watershed Protection

Watershed Protection
How water quality fared during the 2016 legislative session
by Trevor Russell

update

May 31, 2016

As the 2016 legislative session came to a close, two of FMR's top legislative priorities were fully funded, the Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program and the University of Minnesota's Forever Green Initiative. Sadly, though, the bonding bill, with millions of dollars in priority funding for community drinking water and wastewater treatment upgrades, failed to pass before the clock ran out. Additionally, while the bigger-ticket items in the effort to artificially augment White Bear Lake were not approved, funds to obtain design-build proposals managed to make their way through at the last minute.
 

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Funding to augment White Bear Lake pulled from Senate but lingers in House
by Trevor Russell

update

May 16, 2016

Water levels in White Bear Lake have fallen dramatically in the last decade, leading some to call for augmentation by pumping in water from nearby lakes, each of which is in turn backfilled by the Mississippi River. FMR has long advocated against such an expensive and uncertain system, instead promoting longer-term solutions to address the north and east metro's larger groundwater supply and demand issues. Thankfully, the author of the Minnesota Senate bill agrees and has removed all funding for augmentation while calling for investments in a more sustainable water supply for this area. Yet, $2.2 million in provisions supporting augmenting linger in the House.
 

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Fate of Working Lands & Forever Green bills to be decided this week
by Trevor Russell

update

May 16, 2016

As the clock ticks toward adjournment Monday, May 23, the fate of FMR's top legislative priorities will be decided by a bipartisan conference committee of state senators and representatives. In the next few days, FMR will likely be asking all River Protectors and friends of the river to contact their legislators to support FMR's top priorities this session. 

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Senate budget bill approved; Fully funds FMR priorities
by Trevor Russell

update

May 3, 2016

The Minnesota Senate voted 39 to 24 in favor of the Senate Omnibus Finance Bill on Thursday, April 28. The bill includes several of FMR's top environmental initiatives, including The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program and funding for the Forever Green Initiative.

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Forever Green tour a huge success
by Trevor Russell

update

April 28, 2016

FMR and our partners were pleased to host Governor Mark Dayton and more than one hundred elected officials, farmers, students and other interested residents for a tour of the University of Minnesota's Forever Green initiative on April 19th.

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Senate Finance Committee advances $7.5 million environment bill
by Trevor Russell

update

April 28, 2016

The bill includes a number of key environmental provisions, including FMR's top legislative priority for the 2016 session: The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program.

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House advances $8.93 million omnibus environment policy & finance bill
by Trevor Russell

update

April 28, 2016

The Minnesota House of Representatives Committee voted to approve its omnibus environment & natural resources policy and finance bill. While the bill includes a number of provisions requested by state agencies, it fails to include FMR's top legislative priority for the 2016 session: The Working Lands Watershed Restoration Program.

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Upcoming Events

Call for Artists — Our River: Mississippi Muse
Apply by June 1, 2025
F-O-K Creatives gallery near Harriet Island in St. Paul
Help plant a pollinator garden at Hastings' Southwest Park Ponding Basin [FULL]
Tuesday, June 3, 2025 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Southwest Park Ponding Basin, Hastings
Pull garlic mustard at Camel's Hump [FULL]
Wednesday, June 4, 2025 - 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Camel's Hump Park and Open Space, Cottage Grove

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