The State of the River Report wins Environmental Initiative Award!

The State of the River Report won the prestigious 2014 Environmental Initiative Award.

The project, nominated as one of three finalists in the Environmental Education category, was announced as the winner at the Environmental Initiative Awards Banquet held May 22 at Nicollet Island Pavilion.

The award is a great honor for FMR, and our partner the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA), and our project funders and advisors. The State of the River Report captured the attention of local, state, and national media outlets, as well as people from across the state.

Since the release of the report in September 2012, this project has resulted in:

• 54 public events reaching more than 2,500 attendees
• More than 44,000 web visits to stateoftheriver.com
• Distribution of 2,000 reports and 4,000 companion guides

More importantly, it has reshaped the publics understanding of the metro Mississippi Rivers health, and the steps that each of us can take to protect and restore the mighty Mississippi. In addition, it set the stage for a series of successful policy initiatives that have advanced clean water initiatives across the state.

You can read the State of the River Report award nomination here.

About the Awards

The Environmental Initiative Awards, founded in 1994, annually honor innovative projects that have achieved outstanding environmental results by harnessing the power of partnership.

This year, the event had nearly 500 attendees from state and local government, fortune 500 corporations, conservation and public health organizations. Sometimes referred to as the Environmental Oscars, the event highlights the greatest achievements within Minnesotas conservation community. For more information about this years EI Awards Finalists, click here.

Acknowledgments

This report would not have been possible without the staff, volunteers, advisors, and funders that stood with FMR and MNRRA to make this project a reality.

Project Funders

This report is made possible through the generous support of the McKnight Foundation, the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, and the Capitol Region Watershed District. These organizations are dedicated to enhancing the health of our water resources, and we thank them for their support.

Staff

Many staff worked long hours to make this project happen. In addition to those listed below, staff and volunteers from numerous organizations have helped organize a variety of events, presentations, and workshops that have helped us share the results of State of the River Report with thousands of Minnesotans.

Trevor Russell – co-author, Friends of the Mississippi River
Lark Weller – co-author, National Park Service, MNRRA
Bob Spaulding – report design and layout, Friends of the Mississippi River
Noah Mundahl – website design and administration, Friends of the Mississippi River
Sylvia Bachmann – communications consultant

Project Advisors

This State of the River Report would not have been possible without the generous assistance of many individuals and organizations, from a wide range of disciplines, whose research forms the basis of the document. They have given many hours of their time to help us interpret and characterize a variety of river data. We are grateful to them for their support and cooperation throughout the State of the River Report project.

Science Advisory Committee

John Anfinson – National Park Service – Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Daniel Engstrom – St. Croix Watershed Research Station
Steven Heiskary – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Kent Johnson – Metropolitan Council Environmental Services
Sue Magdalene – St. Croix Watershed Research Station
Emily Resseger – Metropolitan Council Environmental Services
Faye Sleeper – University of Minnesota Water Resources Center
Judy Sventek – Metropolitan Council Environmental Services

Technical Advisors and Agency Contributions

Mike Davis – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Deborah Durkin – Minnesota Department of Health
Larry Gunderson – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Paul Hoff – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Richard Kiesling – United States Geological Survey
Len Kremer– Lower Minnesota River Watershed District
Kathy Lee – United States Geological Survey
Patricia McCann – Minnesota Department of Health
Brenda Moraska LaFrancois – National Park Service
Barbara Peichel – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Art Persons – Minnesota Department of Health
Michele Ross – Minnesota Department of Health
Bill Route – National Park Service
Tim Schlagenhaft – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Norman Senjem – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (Retired)
Carol Sinden – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Laura Solem – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Rory Stierler – National Park Service – Mississippi National River and Recreation Area
Joel Stiras – Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
David VanderMeulen – National Park Service
David Wall – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Dennis Wasley – Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Virginia Yingling – Minnesota Department of Health

FMR would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to all State of the River Report contributors. Your dedication and hard work has made this award possible and is much appreciated.