Friends of the Mississippi River

Learn about the dobsonfly, a (somewhat distant) relative of the antlion. Dobsonflies spend most of their life in the larval form and are very predaceous. Read more…

Enjoy exceptional food and wine on the banks of the Mississippi at this event benefiting FMR. Read more…

Thanks to the generous souls who made the Challenge possible! About 150 of you deserve great thanks for contributing time and toil to this year's successful event. Read more…

As communities update river corridor plans, Saint Paul Park is charged with planning for approximately 300 acres of undeveloped critical area land that surrounds a quiet backwater bay on the Mississippi River. Read more…

An advocacy group's recent successes show the way to a renewed vision for St. Paul's Lilydale Park. Read more…

Saturday, September 20, 2008 — 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Volunteer in your community to help clean up the parkland along the Vermillion River as part of an organized watershed-wide Vermillion River clean up at three sites throughout the watershed. Volunteers are needed to help pick up litter along the Vermillion River during the low water levels of autumn, helping to beautify this trophy trout stream. Read more…

A striking July-blooming plant on the prairie is leadplant (Amorpha canescens), one of the few native shrubs found there. Read more…

A new list of Minnesota’s polluted waters underscores the need for clean water investments proposed in a constitutional amendment on the state’s November 4 ballot. Read more…

FMR and National Park Service staff conducted workshops last month in Ramsey, Brooklyn Park, Cottage Grove and Hastings to educate community leaders about tools and resources available to help realize local, state and national goals for the Mississippi River Corridor. Read more…

The new standards, when achieved, will make our waters cleaner for recreation and other uses. Read more…

If you love prairies and are looking to make a difference in their health and vitality, but have a difficult time coordinating events with your schedule, this opportunity may be a perfect fit. Read more…

A recent graduate of Saint Anthony Village High School, Emily is assisting with outreach and coordination for volunteer and stewardship events throughout the summer. Read more…

Saturday, August 9, 2008 — 9:00 am-12:00 pm

Wildflowers, green roofs, and hope for the future. If these things sound good to you, join Friends of the Mississippi River and the Metropolitan Council for a tour of both the Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant and the neighboring restored wet meadow. Read more…

Featured Volunteers — July 2008

Sandee and Dan are lured to water — and they’re also terrific volunteers for FMR’s signature water event.

  Read more…

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 — 6:00-8:00 pm

Help weed and care for native lakeshore and prairie plantings in this Hastings city park. Read more…

Recent heavy rains and flooding in the Upper Mississippi River Basin are expected to expand the region of the Gulf of Mexico starved for oxygen. Read more…

FMR webmaster/IT Geek is hanging up his paddle and picking up…is that a gopher? Read more…

We’re now 15 years old, and one way we want to celebrate FMR’s anniversary is by asking you to submit a favorite FMR story. Read more…

We’re playing an important role in two areas of planning for the future of this key riverfront resource. Read more…

FMR’s Special Places Tour in the Rice Creek Watershed included the newly opened reach of the Rice Creek through the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition parcel. The event was a big hit with participants and was featured in the Star Tribune. Read more…

Thursday, August 14, 2007 — 6:00-8:00 pm

Discover the beautiful native grasses and wildflowers of the largest intact prairie system in the Twin Cities. Explore wind-sculpted dunes overlooking the river and look for rare prairie plants with experienced guides. This is one of our most popular tours! Read more…

If you’re looking for a rare, in-depth experience contributing to the health of your watershed, without having to earn your master’s degree, this is the perfect opportunity. Read more…

Thursday, September 11, 2008 — 6:30-8:00 pm

Carolyn Carr, an ecologist with Ecological Strategies, will lead an interpretive tour of the special Oak Savanna in the Mississippi River Gorge. Carolyn has years’ experience conducting educational and outreach programs to protect open space and restore natural areas, particularly in urban areas, and has been an integral part of the work in this section of the River Gorge. Read more…

The City of Saint Paul is amending the Lilydale Park Master Plan and is seeking comments from their advisory group and members of the public. Read more…

The 14 June 2008 Star Tribune featured an editorial on the Twin Cities’ own national park — The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area — which for all of its charms has managed to escape the notice of many locals. Read more…

This exciting resource can help you plan a memorable green tourism experience. Check it out! Read more…

A new FMR fund honors the steady commitment Roger Roffler made to the beauty and enjoyment of the Mississippi River. Read more…

A local volunteer impatient with the use of the Mississippi River as a dumping ground has an ingenious new way to facilitate cleanup of ugly trash and debris. Read more…

Waste Management Inc. and government agencies are trying to reach agreement on what to do about 30,000 cubic yards of contaminated dirt from the Minneapolis ballpark site that the company improperly deposited beside the Minnesota River last summer. A fix could cost $1 million or more. Read more…

Four states are joining Minnesota in testing for toxic PFCs in the Mississippi River. The compounds’ presence in well water has caused widespread concern about drinking water quality and health implications in the Twin Cities metro. Read more…

FMR is looking for classrooms or community groups in Saint Paul to participate in our Storm Drain Stenciling Project. Complete kits are available free of charge from us, and a representative will meet with your group to explain the threat of non-point source pollution and the purpose of the project. Read more…