Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

In our latest River of Ideas episode, MWMO’s Mary Yang sits down with Akia Vang, both former members of the Mississippi River Green Team, to discuss how the program set them on a path to environmental careers. Together, they reflect on how this hands-on youth initiative inspired them to protect natural spaces, improve water quality, and build a sustainable future in the Twin Cities. From planting trees and managing habitats to connecting with mentors, the Green Team is more than just a job program; it’s a gateway to environmental leadership for Minneapolis youth. Watch on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcast platform! https://lnkd.in/gCjyBwhB #GreenTeam #RiverofIdeas #YouthEmpowerment #MinneapolisParks #EnvironmentalCareers #SustainableFuture

?? Got a project idea to improve water quality or habitat? MWMO’s Stewardship Fund Grants can help bring it to life! Join our free info session for grant details, tips, and Q&A. ??? Nov. 13 | 5:00 - 5:30 pm | Virtual (Zoom) Applications due Dec. 13, 2024.

Could we design our infrastructure in a way that wouldn't require so much salting in the winter? In our latest River of Ideas podcast, we talk with Connie Fortin of Bolton & Menk, Inc. about how low-salt design could help reduce the harmful impact of chloride pollution on our waterways. Find the full episode on YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. https://lnkd.in/gCjyBwhB #mnwater #chloride

We're hiring! Join our team as a Planner-Project Manager and help implement our capital projects and Watershed Management Plan. https://lnkd.in/e_i4ftBT

Intern John Johnson spent his last day at the MWMO collecting water samples from hard-to-reach places, scouting storm tunnels, and even pulling a scooter out of the river — and that was all before noon! John has been a trooper all summer long, lending a hand to our water quality monitoring team and doing some important work researching one of the lakes in the northern part of our watershed. We wish him the best as he enters his final year as a geology undergrad at Macalester College. Good luck, John!

Check out our new backyard! No more eroding footpaths, overgrown trees or frustrated visitors who just want to get to the river ASAP. Our redesigned backyard features safe and direct access to the Mississippi River from our parking lot and improved sight lines throughout our campus. Special thanks to Barr Engineering Co. and SHORELINE LANDSCAPING for their work on the project. Come see it for yourself!

Fall might be Minnesota’s most underrated season for planting native perennials, but there are tons of benefits to planting in fall: ???Cooler temperatures mean less watering and less weed pressure ???Soils are still warm, encouraging root growth before plants go into winter dormancy ???Many native plant nurseries refresh their plant stock for the fall planting season In our latest Blue Thumb blog post, We asked Blue Thumb Partners to share how they prep for a successful fall planting experience. As we enter mid-summer, it’s a perfect time plan for creating or adding onto a native pollinator garden this autumn! https://lnkd.in/gVcVD8Sd #PlantForPollinators #PlantNative #FallPlanting

River of Ideas Episode 05 is out! In our latest #podcast, we're talking with MWMO Executive Director Kevin A. Reich about the redevelopment of Upper Harbor Terminal. Learn how the 53-acre former industrial site will feature an expansive district #stormwater treatment and reuse system, an ephemeral stream, restored shoreline and habitat, and more! Watch the full episode on YouTube or listen on your favorite podcasting app: https://lnkd.in/gCjyBwhB

We think our backyard on the Mississippi River is quite lovely, but if you look carefully at this image you'll notice a big problem: a number of footpaths have been worn into the hillside, causing erosion and creating safety concerns. Instead of fighting our visitors' desire to reach the river quickly, over the next two weeks we'll be replacing these eroded paths with permanent steps that will allow safe and direct access to the river from our parking lot. **Please note that our backyard will be closed to visitors during this time!** Additionally, we'll be adding new seating areas along the paved trail, and pruning a number of overgrown trees to allow for improved sightlines between the building, the parking lot and the river. We look forward to showing you the before-and-after photos!

Lush and green? Perhaps, at the moment. But the space between Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook is certainly not very welcoming — at least, not yet. That's all changing later this year, when the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board completes a new bike and pedestrian trail connection that will fill a 1,000-foot trail gap along the Mississippi Riverfront in North Minneapolis. The MWMO is supporting the project with funding to remove contaminated soils from the riverbank and re-establish native flowers and grasses along the new trails. Learn more on our project page: https://lnkd.in/gsdi-mW6