Watershed Protection

Volunteers monitor small insects to gain big insights into water quality

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June 6, 2025

FMR’s Stream Health Evaluation Program has delivered vital scientific data for nearly two decades. Read more

Just released: Stream health report from 2024 monitoring

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May 13, 2025

Our volunteers' waders are dry. Our biologist has waded through the data. Here's what we found out about water quality by sampling tiny aquatic insects in the Rice Creek watershed last year. Read more

What tiny aquatic insects can reveal about water quality

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May 13, 2025

Aquatic macroinvertebrates are living water quality indicators. Meet three that our monitoring volunteers sample — and find out what they might mean about stream health. Read more

FMR urges MPCA to develop long-overdue nitrate standards

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February 13, 2025

How much nitrate in our surface waters is safe for plants and animals? We don't know, because the MPCA still hasn't established standards. Read more

An MPCA staffer in waders reaches down to get a sample from shallow waters.

FMR now a Water Over Nickel partner

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October 15, 2024

FMR signs on as a partner to Water Over Nickel to oppose the negative consequences of nickel mining. Read more

What the lottery-backed environment fund has made possible for the Mississippi River

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September 10, 2024

Vote YES to rededicate lottery funds to our great outdoors this fall. This fund has helped uncover the hidden risks of triclosan, restore 1,000+ acres of habitat, figure out the best way to deter invasive carp, advance clean-water crops and more. Read more