Thank you 2014 FMR volunteers!
FMR holds dozens of public and private youth and corporate events annually. Above, volunteers from Harding High in East St. Paul plant young tamarack trees in a bog along the Mississippi River.
As the snow begins to fall wed like to thank everyone who helped restore habitat and improve the health of our local waters this volunteer season. We are pleased to report that approximately 2,341 people contributed 6,677 hours to help the Mississippi River at some 96 FMR volunteer events in 2014 an increase of 20% over 2013! Thank you everyone, and please keep telling your friends about us!
From removing invasive species, to installing raingardens and native plants or volunteering behind the scenes, we are incredibly grateful for the hours our volunteers dedicate to improving our local environment. These individuals, families and groups who take time out of their busy schedules to help the river we love continually inspire us.
In 2014, volunteers continued to come from throughout the river corridor to contribute to a wide variety of river restoration and support projects.
- In the northeast metro, three teams of volunteers helped survey local stream health by analyzing insect populations through our Stream Health Evaluation Program.
- In Minneapolis, concerned individuals, families, youth and community college classes removed invasive species at several long-term restoration sites in the Mississippi River Gorge and helped plant a raingarden in Northeast.
- In St. Paul, volunteers from both open public events and smaller youth group activities contributed hundreds of hours restoring Crosby and Indian Mounds Parks and other local areas, and also stenciled over 2,699 storm drains while distributing 6,049 educational flyers to help reduce polluted runoff.
- Dozens of volunteers continued to support the award-winning restoration of the beautiful Pine Bend Natural Area, including the Pine Bend SNA, in Rosemount and Inver Grove Heights.
- Throughout Dakota County, volunteers participated in a wide variety of habitat restoration projects at the Sand Coulee SNA in Hastings and the Vermillion River in Farmington through the Vermillion Stewards program.
- Dozens of volunteers came to support new conservation and restoration programs and projects in Cottage Grove, at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, stunning River Oaks park and the 3M-owned remnant bluff prairie.
- Plus, a terrific Tuesday night office crew, two dedicated interns, and our amazing volunteer board of directors helped keep FMR running behind the scenes.
In 2015, we plan to strengthen all of our programs, with special attention to deepening community relationships and expanding in North and Northeast (a.k.a. "Above the Falls") Minneapolis, East St. Paul and Cottage Grove.
Once again, thank you volunteers! You help conservation and restoration teams do far more than we could accomplish on our own for the river!
To stay in touch about volunteer events, sign up for Mississippi Messages and check out our twice-monthly calendar of volunteer and education activities. You may also contact FMR Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator sue rich by selecting "Volunteer" on our contact form.