Land & Water​

tug boat going through lock and dam

Inside Root River Current | Our Ag & Water Connection

How do our partners approach their work? Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk’s Madeline Heim shares her insights.

volunteers planting trees

In The News: Trees!

Spring is a time for celebrating trees – we report on two restoration projects taking place in conjunction with Arbor Day and Arbor Month.

A man stands in a stream up to his thighs and reaches out with a wood handled net to scoop up a trout.

2025 Trout Season Looks Promising for Local Anglers

John Weiss opens the 2025 catch-and-keep trout season with a primer on the state of trout fishing in southeastern Minnesota.

view of wild rice growing in Mississippi River

Wild Rice Returns to Nearby Stretches of Mississippi River

Madeline Heim reports on the resurgence of native wild rice in the Upper Mississippi River valley.

Maple syrup pours out of a metal valve with a blue handle into a large stainless steel urn with handles.

‘Sweet Business’ in the Hardwood Forest

Into the woods in search of Carlin’s Sugar Shack — and a sweet surprise! Alison Leathers teases us with syrup and more.

river restoration project

Root River Restoration Project: Major Milestone Achieved

An amazing feat is making progress. Colleen Froehrenbacher has a video update on moving a stretch of the Root River’s main channel back to an earlier bed near the Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center.

upper mississippi river backwaters photo

SE Minnesota’s Mississippi River Fisheries to Benefit from Proposed Legislation

Upper Mississippi fisheries and environmental quality could benefit from the proposed Mississippi River Basin Fishery Commission Act of 2025, reports the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk.

A tiny trout floats in water surrounded by groups of tiny bubbles.

Trout in the Classroom | Opening a New World To Kids

John Weiss introduces us to high school students and their hands-on learning about rainbow trout and the delicate balance of conditions needed to grow them into big trout.

woman at podium with other adults surrounding her, announcing a minnesota law suit

Regional Nitrate Issues Again Making Headlines

New lawsuit aims to ensure work continues to address nitrate contamination issues in southeast Minnesota.

kids collecting acorns in a park

Gathering Acorns to Renew River Forestland

Efforts to collect acorns are helping with reforestation projects along the Upper Mississippi River. The Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk reports on volunteer work near the Reno Bottoms.

Two people dressed in jackets, hats, and rubber boots stand in shallow water and scoop debris from the bottom of the stream onto a yellow tarp.

Aquatic Guardianship: The Importance of Monitoring and Maintaining Our Waterways

Clean streams depend on regular monitoring; Laurie Byrne reports on how volunteers assist with water testing to help maintain a healthy Mill Creek in Chatfield.

A woman bundled up with a knitted green hat, knitted green mittens, and a plaid scarf gives a thumbs up outside on a winter day.

Longest-Running Community Science Bird Project Celebrates 125 Years

John Weiss joins in with birders at Whitewater State Park to collect data during the annual Christmas Bird Count.

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