Fall Colors along the Mississippi

The Autumn Mississippi from Matty Lang on Vimeo.

Forthcoming "Surrendering to Serendipity" Chronicles 90 Day Trip Along the Mississippi

Gayle Harper, a travel photographer and writer, is currently working on a book about her 90-day road trip following the entire course of the Mississippi River.

The journey was 90 days because that is how long it takes a single drop of water to travel the Mississippi River from the headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Gayle kept pace with an imaginary raindrop on a 90-day roadtrip, meeting amazing people and having crazy, fun, serendipitous experiences!

Check out "Surrendering to Serendipity" at http://www.gayleharper.wordpress.com/ for River tales and photos and learn more about the project from this video:

St. Anthony Falls Lab Assists New York Company in Testing Turbines

An October 20 Star Tribune article outlines how scientists at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory are helping a New York company test its submerged turbines that generate power from river and tidal flows. 

According to the article, Verdant Power is led by scientists focused on capturing the energy of flowing water without building dams.

Here's the link to the article and video.

Download a Copy of the 2013 Riverfront Vitality Project.

The Riverfront Vitality Project is the first comprehensive look at the Mississippi Riverfront in the City of Minneapolis.

This Project seeks to identify and understand the existing data that captures the Riverfront’s current status and, as time passes, will establish the trend lines showing how much progress toward a revitalized Riverfront has being achieved in response to public and private investment.

Download a copy of the 2013 Riverfront Vitality Project...

Mississippi Messages Calendar - October 2013

Calendar of Events

Seed Collection at the Sand Coulee/Rare Prairie

Saturday, October 12 — 9:00 a.m.-noon.
Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area, Hastings

Enjoy a hands-on seed identification and collection in this rare sand-gravel prairie. Seed gathered at this Vermillion Stewards event will be used for further habitat restoration. Large quantities — of volunteers and seed alike — are needed! No experience required, however, this activity is very detail-oriented and generally best suited for teens and up.

Capacity is limited and registration required. Learn more on the event page, or sign up now with Lindsay at lhefferan@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x24.

Read more »

Help Restore Habitat at Pine Bend Bluffs

Saturday, October 26 — 9:00 a.m.-noon
Pine Bend Bluffs near Highway 52, Flint Hills property, Rosemount

Join Friends of the Mississippi River, Flint Hills Resources and Great River Greening as we return to the Flint Hills property within the Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area along the Mississippi River. One of the largest and most diverse native ecosystems left in the metro area, this site is only accessible to the public for special events such as this. Working with ecologists and staff, volunteers will remove invasive species — helping to stack pre-cut buckthorn brush — and assist with other restoration tasks in the oak forest area above the river. All supplies are provided, including lunch! Individuals, groups and families are welcome, but participants must be 15 and up. Learn more on the event page, or sign up now with Lindsay at lhefferan@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x24. (Registration for this event closes October 18th.)

Read more »

Bust Buckthorn in 'Tunnel Valley'

Saturday, November 2 — 9:00 a.m.-noon
Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, Cottage Grove

Centered around one of the most impressive landscape features in southern Washington County, Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park totals nearly 600 acres. Its namesake ravine, known as "tunnel valley," was carved by a subglacial drainageway and is approximately a half-mile wide with 80- to 100-foot slopes. Historically these slopes were covered by oak woodland and savanna, but have become overgrown in with trees and invasive nonnative shrubs. Volunteers are needed to work with FMR ecologist Karen Schik to help restore this beautiful landscape by hauling away brush, which will open the canopy and make way for more beneficial native plants to return.

No experience is required and all supplies, as well as lunch, will be provided. Capacity is limited and registration required. Learn more on the event page, or sign up now with Lindsay at lhefferan@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x24.

Read more »

Upcoming State of the River Report presentations

Various dates
Various locations

In September 2012, Friends of the Mississippi River and the National Park Service released the first-ever State of the River Report, detailing the ecological health of the Twin Cities stretch of the Mississippi River. While the report is available in its entirety at StateoftheRiver.com, FMR and NPS staff will also be presenting the report several times over the coming months. We encourage you to attend any one of a number of public events, listed at StateoftheRiver.com.

Read more »

For current event listings and more information on the events listed above, please visit our events calendar page at www.fmr.org/participate/events.

Minneapolis RiverCurrent 10-10-13

Best Laid Plans

October 10 – December 19

Old Spaghetti Factory, 233 Park Avenue

Join The Murder Mystery Company as they journey back in time to the glamorous 1930's with Best Laid Plans. Get all dolled up for an evening of "Old Hollywood Style" fun as you mingle with the who's whos of society. Be careful though, as someone in the room is guilty of a terrible crime. Bring your friends, family and don't forget your detective skills to help solve the case! For information and tickets

Click to read more ...