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.)

Blog updates are also shared on social (Facebook and Twitter) 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

Reflections on the recent youth & climate change ruling
A landmark decision for the first constitutional climate trial in the U.S. is about more than climate change. It's about considering the full impact of our actions today, and the power youth have to fight climate change in the courts — and win. Read more
Two young people hold a sign in the river gorge that reads "Protect our future"
Is Minnesota doing enough to protect our drinking water?
A recent headline in the Star Tribune said it all: 'Little action so far on plan to enlist farmers to clean up polluted groundwater in Minnesota.' How did we get here? And what do we do about it? Read more
Person holds a mason jar of clear water in a field of Kernza
FMR tapped to help craft clean transportation recommendations
The newly announced working group will deliver Clean Transportation Standard recommendations to legislators early next year. Read more
A driver at a hydrogen fueling station, filling up her fuel cell vehicle. She is holding a pump that appears similar to a traditional gas station.
What the Mississippi River needs from the new Farm Bill
The Farm Bill accounts for hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of spending on programs that address nutrition, commodity crop production, farmland conservation, research and more. Read more
A pair of hands examining the roots of a small, green plant that has been pulled from an agricultural field.
Is it safe to swim in the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities?
As an organization focused on the river’s health, we get asked this all the time. Read more
Bare feet standing on the sand along the shores of the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities.
Sackett case: How the Supreme Court ruling impacts the Mississippi River
On May 25, the U.S. Supreme Court announced a decision that drastically narrows the scope of the Clean Water Act and represents one of the most far-reaching rollbacks to this decades-old law since its passage in 1972.  Read more
Wetland reflecting sky
How FMR's priorities for the Mississippi River fared this session
FMR made progress on every single one of its priorities this legislative session. Here's a roundup of everything that happened. Read more
A collage showing parts of five different photos, all from this legislative session: Two FMR staffers posing with fish postcards in the Capitol; an FMR staffer testifying at a May 1 hearing; A state senator posing with children following a hearing; legislators on a tour at the Forever Green Initiative facilities; printed papers with the FMR logo, shown with the Capitol building in the background.
In a first, Legislature includes all Clean Water Fund recommendations in budget
The council's recommendations include funding for one of FMR's top legislative priorities. Read more
Minnesota lake surrounded by trees
12 other wins for the Mississippi River from this legislative session
While FMR wasn't leading on these efforts, we were quite happy to see them come out of the Capitol this session. Read more
High river waters in the foreground, flooding a wooded shoreline.
A win for the great outdoors: Voters will get to rededicate lottery funds to the environment
Lottery funds for the Great Outdoors will be back on the ballot — though without some sought-after new revenue. Read more
Loon plus text: "#MNLEG Final Update"

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Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 20, 2024 - 9:30am to 12:00pm
West River Parkway and 36th Street/44th Street, Minneapolis
Applications due Friday, May 3 by 5 p.m.
Virtual and in-person
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 - 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area