Mining company abandons proposed project in Mississippi riverbed

By Colleen O'Connor Toberman

February 13, 2026

The river with islands in the distance near the site of the now-abandoned mine proposal.

The proposed mining project would have threatened a treasured stretch of the Twin Cities metro Mississippi River. (Photo by FMR)

A mining company has abandoned its plans for a project that would have been located in the Mississippi riverbed.

In November 2025, the city of Cottage Grove approved an environmental review for a proposed gravel mine in the Mississippi River bottom — despite widespread public outcry. (Read more about this project and the city's approval vote.)

Amrize (formerly known as Holcim Industries) was hoping to dig a 200-foot-deep mine pit in the riverbed to extract aggregate (sand and gravel) next to its current upland mine on Lower Grey Cloud Island. This mine expansion would have caused significant damage to a treasured Mississippi backwater.

FMR, community members and several government agencies opposed this project due to its negative impacts. In fact, we believe this mine would be illegal.

A labeled map showing the project site along the river, including the area where mining operations would move into the riverbed.

A map showing the area of the river that would have been impacted by the now-dropped mine expansion. (Image from City of Cottage Grove public documents.)

But Cottage Grove ignored the extensive opposition to and legal shortcomings in the Environmental Impact Statement (also called an "EIS"), and found itself in court. In late 2025, the Metropolitan Council and Dakota County filed a legal appeal over the adequacy of the EIS.

Just weeks later, Amrize has walked away from its proposed mine.

In a letter to Cottage Grove dated Feb. 12, 2026, the company stated it will "discontinue all planning and development for this project, effective immediately." The Pioneer Press wrote a story about the decision.

A victory for the river and its advocates

This riverbed mine proposal posed real threats to a treasured stretch of the Mississippi River. We’re happy to see Amrize recognized the resounding opposition from nearby neighbors, government agencies, indigenous communities and environmental groups, and chose to pull its proposal.

This decision protects the plants and animals there that depend on healthy water. It preserves the natural beauty that so many community members and visitors enjoy. And it avoids an unnecessary legal battle for a proposal that was clearly illegal under state law.

It’s a win for the metro Mississippi River.

Thank you to every individual who showed up to a meeting or submitted a comment, as well as the many groups who lodged concerns, including Dakota County, the Prairie Island Indian Community, the Metropolitan Council and the Minnesota DNR.

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