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| Friends of the Mississippi River | |
|---|---|
| Name | Friends of the Mississippi River |
| Formation | 1998 |
| Type | Nonprofit environmental organization |
| Headquarters | Saint Paul, Minnesota |
| Region served | Mississippi River, Minnesota |
| Leader title | Executive Director |
| Leader name | John Linc Stine |
Friends of the Mississippi River
Friends of the Mississippi River is a regional nonprofit conservation organization based in Saint Paul, Minnesota working to protect and restore the Mississippi River (North America) corridor in Minnesota. The organization engages in habitat restoration, policy advocacy, scientific monitoring, and community education, partnering with agencies like the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, local governments such as Hennepin County, Minnesota and Ramsey County, Minnesota, and national entities including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Founded in 1998, the organization emerged amid growing public attention after events like the 1993 Great Flood of 1993 and policy shifts following the Clean Water Act amendments. Early collaborations involved actors such as the National Park Service on Mississippi National River and Recreation Area planning and local conservation districts like the Anoka Conservation District. Over time, relationships developed with institutions including the University of Minnesota, research programs at the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, and civic groups in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Saint Paul, Minnesota. The group has intersected with regional movements tied to the Minnesota River watershed, urban riverfront redevelopment in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, and national dialogues exemplified by organizations such as the Sierra Club and The Nature Conservancy.
The mission emphasizes protection, restoration, and stewardship of river systems, aligning with principles promoted by entities like the National Audubon Society, American Rivers, and the Environmental Protection Agency. Core programs mirror conservation frameworks used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and involve scientific monitoring akin to work from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Geological Survey. Program areas include riparian habitat restoration, floodplain management, water quality monitoring, and recreational access, often coordinated with local park boards such as the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department.
Projects range from shoreline stabilization to native prairie and wetland restoration on properties owned by partners like the Metropolitan Council and municipal landowners in Bloomington, Minnesota and Eagan, Minnesota. Restoration techniques draw on research from universities including University of Wisconsin–Madison and Iowa State University, and on best practices advocated by the Society for Ecological Restoration. Notable project types include reestablishment of native vegetation, invasive species control (targeting species addressed by the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council), and habitat connectivity work connecting tributaries like the Saint Croix River and the Minnesota River.
Advocacy activities engage with legislative processes at the Minnesota Legislature and federal agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Campaigns have targeted funding streams such as the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and land-use frameworks implemented by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and regional bodies like the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota). The organization has submitted comments on projects overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and participated in permit reviews under statutes like the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, often coordinating with conservation partners such as Pheasants Forever and regional chapters of the Audubon Society.
Education efforts include citizen science programs modeled after initiatives from the Izaak Walton League of America and the Mississippi River Network, school partnerships with districts like Minneapolis Public Schools and Saint Paul Public Schools, and volunteer events akin to stewardship programs run by the Nature Conservancy and local land trusts. Outreach targets diverse constituencies across neighborhoods in Duluth, Minnesota, St. Cloud, Minnesota, and river towns including Red Wing, Minnesota and Winona, Minnesota, collaborating with cultural institutions like the Minnesota Historical Society and outdoor organizations such as the Appalachian Mountain Club.
The organization operates with a board of directors and professional staff, following nonprofit governance norms common to groups like the Trust for Public Land and Conservation Minnesota. Funding sources include private foundations such as the McKnight Foundation, grants from agencies like the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, individual donations, and corporate partnerships with regional businesses and utilities including Xcel Energy. Fiscal partnerships and project funding have also involved federal grants administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and program exchanges with entities like the Minnesota Land Trust.
Key campaigns have addressed riverfront protection, successful acquisitions and easements similar to work by the The Conservation Fund, and policy victories on issues such as stormwater management and shoreline protection adopted by municipalities including Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Achievements include large-scale restorations informed by science from University of Minnesota Duluth and partnerships leading to improved access at sites like regional parks managed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and local park boards. The organization has been cited in regional planning processes involving the Metropolitan Council (Minnesota), riverfront revitalization projects in Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and collaborative efforts with national conservation organizations like American Rivers, The Nature Conservancy, and the National Audubon Society.
Category:Environmental organizations based in Minnesota