Land & Water​

people around table in conference room

Wilderness-Style Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail Making Progress

The Minnesota Driftless Hiking Trail is close to opening a couple stretches of this proposed 100-plus mile wilderness trail through Southeast Minnesota — read the latest.

A man in waders stands knee deep in flowing river water just below a short dam. He is casting out a long line from his fishing pole and holding the line in one hand.

Proposed Lanesboro Riverfront Project Adds Access, Fishing and Trails

John Weiss learns more about a proposed project to upgrade the portion of the Root River that winds through Lanesboro.

An older man with gray hair, wearing a maroon tshirt with University of Minnesota in gold letters, stands on grass next to a field of corn that reaches well over his head. The sky behind the field is bright blue with white fluffy clouds.

Conservation Conversation with Farmer Duane Bakke

Alison Leathers reports on a local farmer’s conservation work including no-till planting. Part of a three-part series.

a thicket of white flowers

‘Highly toxic’ hemlock widespread in Upper Midwest

Poison hemlock can be a killer – and it could be in your backyard. Our colleagues with the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk report on how it’s spreading through the region.

A group of people gather on a large, elevated, circle structure covered by a roof. Signs with writing and images are positioned around the entrance stairway to the gazebo.

Citizen Working Group Releases Nitrate Report

John Torgrimson covers the release of 2025 recommendations by a regional work group to address nitrate issues in Southeast Minesota.

apple branches

A Warming Climate is Changing Growing Conditions

With average temperatures rising, planting zones are slowly working their way northward through the Upper Midwest; Olivia Cohen reports from the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk.

A man wearing a gray tshirt with a large cloth glove on holds a tube sandwiches in a form. His other hand (out of the image) is pushing down on a plunger attached to the tube.

Liquid Willowcat Revolutionizes Walleye Fishing

John Weiss reports on a unique business venture that combines scent, color and a love for fishing.

A grassy hillside dotted with clumps of tall yellow daisy-like flowers with dark centers. Flowers are called Rudbeckia or Black-Eyed Susan.

In La Crescent, HELP Grant Sparks Community, Habitat Connections

Ann Wessel reports on new native planting and pollinator habitat projects created in La Crescent through state and local funding programs.

a photo collage of a screen, a bike, and a train

Speak Up, Speak Out – and Listen

Water quality, e-bikes and a new “talking trail” are all In the News in June. John Gaddo has details on how Root River Current readers can speak up, speak out – and listen!

A group of people bend and stand over small bushes being planted in a dry grass field. A hill with leafed out green trees is off the the left and back of the photo.

Hundreds of Shrubs to Protect Vesta Creek Streambank

John Weiss joins a crew of volunteers and conservation groups on a planting project to restore Vesta Creek’s floodplain with native and climate-adapted shrubs.

Four students hold long metal poles with an x-shaped end that is placed on the gravel ground.

Chert Quarry Near Grand Meadow Was Historic Social Center

A historic Grand Meadow-area site was both a quarry and a seasonal crossroads for neighboring Indigenous people. Check out part II of David Phillips’ reporting.

Four high school students, two in chest waders, stand knee deep in a trout stream.

High Schoolers Learning from Trout

John Weiss checks back in with Rushford-Peterson students as they complete their Trout in the Classroom project with a stream release.

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