This site, sponsored by the Water Resources Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato, promotes the development of the full "Working Together for the Minnesota River" website. When that site is up and running, natural resource professionals and the public will be able to access and share information about all the public lands and restoration projects in the Minnesota River Basin. Our goal is collaboration through communication.
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Clean Up the River Environment
Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River
Friends of the Minnesota Valley
High Island Creek & Rush River Watershed Implementation Projects
Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency
Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter
Minnesota River Watershed Alliance
Minnesota State University Mankato Water Resources Center
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service
NEW VIDEOS!
Make sure to choose the full-screen and 720p HD options.
Highlight reel of footage we've done so far.
Sources of sediment in the Minnesota River, as explained by Dr. Carrie Jennings of the Minnesota Geological Survey.
The videos made their debut July 16 at the Mississippi River Forum, sponsored by the National Park Service and the McKnight Foundation. Our thanks to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for incorporating these videos into their presentation.
August 2010
The Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy endorses the project. Thank you, IATP!
Documentary filming:
- DNR fisheries biologists conduct Index of Biotic Integrity (fish survey) at the confluence of Seven Mile Creek and the MN River.
- Mississippi River tour of the lock and dam at Hastings and Weaver Bottoms habitat restoration at the south end of Lake Pepin. Sponsored by the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District.
- Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah, including interview with Bob Williams, co-developer of the Minnesota River Valley Birding Trail.
- Quarry operation north of Henderson
- Early Euro-American settlement of the middle Minnesota River as described by Gustavus Adolphus professor Bob Douglas to students at the Treaty Site History Center at Traverse des Sioux.
- Belle Plaine fishing contest!
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Grand Re-opening of the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge visitor center in Bloomington, including an interview with the "Seal Sisters," daughters of MariAlice Seal, who was instrumental in creating the Refuge.
- Farmfest, including Governors' Candidates Forum.
- Agricultural drainage workshop in Waseca, featuring experts from agribusiness, state agencies and academia. Includes aerial footage of water's path from a soybean field to a creek and on to the Le Sueur, Blue Earth and Minnesota Rivers.
- Interview with Larry LaPoiint and George Lindsay, retired US Army Corps of Engineers staff who oversaw construction of the flood wall in Mankato.
- Interview with Gyles Randall, Ph.D., at the University of Minnesota's Southern Research and Outreach Center on the history of agriculture in the MN River Basin.
Additions to the More Info page:
- Minnesota River Clean-Up: Ten Years Later
A 2002 report from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy.
River with a past: On the lush Minnesota, beautiful scenery comes with harsh history
A 2009 article from Midwest Weekends magazine.
Lower Minnesota River Study:
Monitoring and Modeling Water Quality F rom Jordan, Minnesota, to the Mouth
A 2010 collaborative project led by the Metropolitan Council.
July 2010
- For the Mississippi River Forum, we provided a video to the MN Pollution Control Agency for a presentation on how sediment makes its way from the Minnesota River Basin to Lake Pepin. The video features Dr. Carrie Jennings of the MN Geological Survey.
Documentary filming:
- Aerial photography of Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition installation of conservation drainage tiling system and interview with ADMC Executive Director Leonard Binstock.
June 2010
Documentary filming:
- Removal of invasive cedar trees from a rare upland prairie using the power of chain saws, Belgian draft horses and high school football players.
- Dam removal project and status of fish in the MN River as explained by DNR fisheries biologist Chris Domeier
- Montevideo high school students canoeing on the Lac Qui Parle River.
- Moonstone Farm river-friendly grass-fed beef operation.
- Montevideo floodplain cornfield converted to wetland.
- Interview with CURE Executive Director Patrick
Moore.
- Governor Arne Carlson discusses his MN River restoration initiative and the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP).
May 2010
Documentary filming:
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Kids Bird Watching Fair sponsored by Audubon Minnesota and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
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MN Geological Survey scientist Dr. Carrie Jennings describes geological history of the MN River Valley and sources of sediment in the river.
More Info page:
Now includes "A River Runs Through It: Cultures, Economies and Landscapes Within the Minnesota River Basin to 1900," a 1999 doctoral thesis by Polly Fry
April 2010
Documentary filming: Minnesota State University Mankato installs monitoring station at Lake Titloe, Gaylord.
March 2010
US Fish and Wildlife Service supports project with $10,000 challenge cost-share grant.
Minnesota River Board supports project with $3000 grant.
Water Resources Center at MSU Mankato becomes project sponsor.
Documentary filming: From Big Stone Lake to Montevideo: Big Stone NWR, reclaimed floodplain, sewage treatment, streambank restoration.
February 2010
Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter supports project with $500 grant.
