Ever wonder happens to the thousands of tons of salt applied to our roads, parking lots and sidewalks in winter? Most of it ends up in our lakes, rivers, streams and wetlands. Mississippi Watershed Management Organization’s new video, “Improved Winter Maintenance: Good Choices for Clean Water,” features a few easy things about tools, techniques and products that we can all use to keep our driveways and sidewalks safe and protect our waters. Read more…

On January 17th, Gov. Mark Dayton, along with U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, signed a memorandum of understanding for the development of the so-called “Ag Certainty Framework” or Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. At this point, however, all that is “certain” about this program is that our most successful and effective environmental protections, such as the Clean Water Act, are not going to be applied to the biggest source of water pollution in Minnesota: large agribusiness producers. Read more…

Approximately 240 people packed the Science Museum of Minnesota auditorium November 17th to learn about one of the most important issues facing the river today: sediment pollution. Event-goers learned about research — some longstanding, some new and fairly, well...dramatic — linking industrial agriculture with river pollution, then kept our panel of water-quality experts on stage beyond the event’s official end-time with a stream of excellent questions. Read more…

The Mighty Mississippi is a cultural icon, a defining characteristic of our communities and perhaps even our identities. So, why doesn't it float on our minds more often? The Initiative Foundation poses this essential question in their fall issue of IQ or Initiative Quarterly: "Mighty — Our River Resurgence." Read more…

As regular Mississippi Messages readers know, Minnesota and Wisconsin have been hard at work developing a cleanup plan to address the excessive sediment pollution in the South Metro section of the Mississippi River. After years of work, project leaders are preparing to open the plan for public comment — one of the final steps before this plan becomes reality. Read more…

Over the last year there have been many controversy-stirring films and dozens of news stories about the Mississippi's water-quality problems. But what exactly are these culprits we keep hearing about — what is "suspended sediment" or a "TMDL"? And why are "excess nutrients" so bad for the river? Join the eminent and engaging Dr. Daniel Engstrom at this special FMR, Science Museum presentation Thurs., Nov. 17th as he answers these questions in an approachable manner, and discusses solutions to the problems. (Thanks to our City of Saint Paul sponsors, this event is free; Science Museum access included.) Read more…

Minnesota Public Radio’s Ground Level project, launched Tuesday, September 13th, highlights a number of water quality and landscape management stories from around the state. Frequently a source for media coverage, FMR's Watershed Program Director Trevor Russell is featured in several articles — he also has some cautionary words for readers following the big-ag river pollution issue. Read more…

With the support of five of Minnesota's eight Representatives, on July 13th the U.S. House passed a bill to significantly weaken the Clean Water Act. The bill is unlikely to survive the Senate, and a Presidential veto is assured. Nevertheless, it is a somber reminder that many in Washington are eager to dismantle the Clean Water Act. Read more…

A year since its launch, the Blue Star Award Program has exceeded our goals as it aims to honor Minnesota’s clean-water communities. With 42 participating communities and 14 award winners, the program is well on its way to highlighting the best that Minnesota communities have to offer. Read more…

Recently, the Star Tribune published an FMR counterpoint to a misleading commercial agriculture opinion piece. Our counterpoint highlights the true role agricultural tile drainage plays in the excessive sedimentation of the Minnesota and Mississippi rivers. Read more…

As FMR members know, the Mississippi River below its confluence with the Minnesota River is so turbid (full of muddy sediment) that the river’s plant and animal life suffers. This sediment is also filling in Lake Pepin — a large natural lake on the Mississippi River near the Red Wing / Lake City area. Read more…

Again this month, here is a round-up of some of the bills FMR is working on at the legislature this year. Take a moment to contact your legislators and let them know you support strong protections for the Mississippi River and Minnesota’s environment. Read more…

As the state legislative session progresses, FMR has continued to advocate against numerous bills that would undermine Minnesota’s foundation of environmental protection. Take a moment to contact your legislators and let them know you support strong protections for the Mississippi River and Minnesota’s environment. Read more…

While the Mississippi River remains an iconic big river, it is also a troubled resource threatened by a variety of pollutants. One of the most pressing issues for the Mississippi River today is high turbidity — suspended sediment in the water. The South Metro section of the Mississippi River is one area currently suffering from high turbidity. Learn more about this problem and what can be done to mitigate it. Read more…

Here’s a quick round-up of some of the worst bills under consideration at the legislature this year. Please take a moment to contact your legislators and let them know you support strong protections for the Mississippi River and Minnesota’s environment. Read more…

After years of work by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and a number of stakeholders, including FMR staff, we are pleased to announce that public comment is now being sought on the South Metro Mississippi River clean-up plan! The plan sets clear limits on allowable levels of sediment pollution and is the first step toward restoring the Mississippi River for generations to come. This is an opportunity Minnesotans can’t afford to lose. Read more…

A recent Star Tribune investigative article, “Poison on tap,” by Josephine Marcotty, highlights how farm runoff is poisoning families and communities in agricultural areas. With quotes and insights from FMR’s executive director and other clean water advocates as well as representatives from industrial agriculture, the article is a sound exploration of this significant problem. Although balanced, the facts in “Poison on tap” make it clear: voluntary farm runoff regulation is not enough. Read more…

The Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework, commissioned by the 2010 Minnesota Legislature, is a first-of-its-kind plan to protect Minnesota's lakes, rivers and groundwater for the 21st century and beyond. This month, legislators consider its recommendations. Read more…

Nearly 400 people attended the October screening and panel discussion of “Troubled Waters.” Tickets went record-fast for the documentary on the unintended impacts of commercial agriculture and urban runoff on the health of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The documentary is available online thanks to Twin Cities Public Television. Read more…

The University of Minnesota’s Water Resources Center has been charged by the Minnesota State Legislature to develop the framework for sustainable water management, a set of recommendations that will protect and preserve Minnesota’s lakes, stream, rivers and ground water for the 21st century and beyond without compromising people’s current needs, water quality or natural ecosystems. This product is called the Minnesota Water Sustainability Framework — and it’s a pretty big deal. Read more…

The Blue Star Award Program which FMR launched this fall continues to receive positive reviews from local governments. The program, which recognizes cities that have taken the lead in instituting policies and practices to reduce runoff pollution, now has ten award recipients. Read more…

Troubled Waters is a documentary film that explores the unintended consequences of commercial agriculture and urban runoff on the health of the Mississippi River and the “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. Originally planned for release on October 3rd, the film had been embargoed by the University of Minnesota's Public Relations Department. Read more…

Minnesota has a brand new award program for communities that excel at protecting our water quality from urban runoff pollution: The Blue Star Award for Excellence in Community Stormwater Management. Read more…