Water

FMR is proud to be a leading voice in protecting the water of our Big River and all the people and wildlife who depend on it.

From the banks of the Mississippi to the halls of the Legislature, our Water program strives to keep you up to date on important water-quality issues. (For political animals, here are all FMR posts related to legislative advocacy.)

Updates are also shared on social (Facebook and Instagram) and in FMR's Mississippi Messages newsletter.

Join us! Sign up to be a River Guardian to receive email action alerts when we need your help the most, plus invitations to educational happy hours and other events.

POSTS

Action Alert - Say ‘no’ to environmental cuts, raids and rollbacks in SF2314 [CLOSED]

May 9, 2019

With less than two weeks to go, legislators are meeting to craft a final environment budget & policy bill. Please act today to tell your legislators: “No cuts, rollbacks and raids in the omnibus environment bill!” >>

What's at stake as the final environment bill takes shape?

by Trevor Russell

May 9, 2019

Legislative negotiators from the House and Senate face a number of policy and budget decisions with major implications for the health of our lands and waters as they craft a compromise environment budget and policy bill. >>

As the session draws to a close, major environmental bills remain in limbo

by Trevor Russell

May 7, 2019

With less than two weeks to go in the 2019 legislative session, major decisions are yet to be made on funding and policy across a range of environmental issues at the Capitol. Here’s a brief overview of where things stand and what's at stake during upcoming negotiations. >>

Action Alert - Fully fund Forever Green [CLOSED]

May 6, 2019

With just two weeks left in the legislative session, the Minnesota House has proposed full funding for the Forever Green Initiative but the Senate has not. Act today to support FMR's top legislative priority: Full funding Forever Green to protect the Mississippi River and support Minnesota's rural communities. >>

FMR signs coalition letter supporting House environment bill

by Trevor Russell

April 30, 2019

FMR joined 22 other organizations in a letter of support for the House Omnibus Environment Bill. In sharp contrast to the Senate's, the House bill reinstates the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens' Board and makes a strong commitment to investing in our natural resources. Here’s the letter we distributed on the Senate floor prior to the debate. >>

FMR signs on to coalition letter opposing the Senate environment bill

by Trevor Russell

April 24, 2019

April 23, 2019 FMR joined 19 other organizations in formally opposing the Senate Environment Budget and Policy Omnibus Bill (SF 2314). Here's the letter we distributed on the Senate floor prior to the debate. >>

FMR supports the call to reinstate the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens’ Board

by Trevor Russell

April 24, 2019

Earlier this session, FMR joined with organizations from across the state to ask legislators to restore the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens’ Board. >>

Update: Clean Water Fund bills pit key water programs against one another

April 24, 2019

In recent weeks, committees in the House and Senate have laid out how they think Minnesota should spend its Legacy Amendment funding for clean water programs. Unfortunately, both bills call for use of these special, voter-created funds for programs normally supported through more routine channels. Now, three broadly-supported programs have been essentially pitted against one another during a time of a billion-dollar surplus. >>

Protect our environment - remove rollbacks in SF 2314 [CLOSED]

April 22, 2019

It's Earth Day and we wish we had a happier post to share with you, but Minnesota's environment needs you. TODAY.

Despite a $1 billion surplus, the MN Senate is about to vote on a budget -- tomorrow, Tuesday, April 23 - to slash general fund spending on the environment and natural resources by $57 million.

Please take action today to stop the cuts and remove rollbacks in SF 2314!

Senate proposes major environmental rollback

by Trevor Russell

April 17, 2019

The Minnesota Senate’s proposed environmental budget bill (SF 2314) makes crippling cuts to general fund spending for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (86% cut), Department of Natural Resources (17%) and Board of Water and Soil Resources (39%). And that’s not all. >>