Another banner year for our young river stewards!
A big thank you to all the young river stewards who helped us protect and restore the Mighty Mississippi in 2019 — all 2,482 of you!
Students stenciled educational messages alongside storm drains, collected trash throughout Twin Cities parks and helped not only restore habitat along the river but research the best ways to keep it healthy in the future. Plus, students in our new pilot program for exploring the environmental field. >>
Ford Area C updates email list
Sign up for updates, including public meeting announcements about Ford Area C. >>
Projected $1.3B state surplus could be good news for clean water
In a delightful bit of news, the State of Minnesota’s December 2019 budget forecast estimates a $1.3 billion preliminary budget surplus for 2020.
While sure to ignite debates regarding both new investments and planned tax cuts during the 2020 Legislative session, this could bode well for much-needed clean water funding. >>
Water Gremlin: How lead sinkers harm people too
The state’s sudden closure of the troubled Water Gremlin facility (known for producing lead fishing sinkers and battery terminals) casts new light on a little-discussed risk of lead products: “take-home lead.” >>
Star Tribune highlights link between pheasant decline and farming
How we farm impacts the Mississippi River — and bird populations. We can help them both. >>
The end of ethanol: Future-proofing Minnesota’s cropland
The electric vehicle transition will happen, and it has huge implications for American farms (not to mention opportunities for water quality). In the electrified world of 2050, demand for corn ethanol will have plummeted, and the agricultural economy will be nothing like the one you know today. If we invest in innovative clean-water crops now, we can improve the long-term outlook for our state’s rural economic prosperity and for our river. >>
Global action on hybrid and electric vehicle commitments
We're tracking the transition to electric vehicles because moving away from ethanol production has major implications for agriculture and therefore water quality. Here's a very brief summary of recent local and global commitments towards electric vehicle incentives, requirements and production goals. >>
MPR: UN study says don’t worry about microplastics in drinking water – much
Minnesota Public Radio recently highlighted a World Health Organization study on microplastics in drinking water. The conclusion: “…levels of microplastics in drinking water don't appear to be risky, but that research has been spotty and more is needed into their effects on the environment and health.” >>
What's in a storm drain stenciling kit?
Looking to do some good for the Mississippi River, but need a flexible schedule? FMR offers complete do-it-yourself St. Paul storm drain stenciling kits for groups of two to 20, spring through fall.
Learn more in this video with FMR stenciling coordinator Daurius Mikroberts as he walks you through the kit's ingredients, or learn more on our stenciling kits page.
