Friends of the Mississippi River - Working to protect the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area

The twinkling lights of summer

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:21:10 +0000

After overwintering as larvae, adult fireflies emerge in early summer and begin to look for mates. They can often be found resting on foliage during the day.

Photo: Karen Schik/FMR

The flashing lights of fireflies are a hallmark of Minnesota summers, creating a twinkling show reminiscent of a holiday display. Fireflies, also called lightning bugs, are a type of beetle, in the aptly named family, Lampyridae. Both males and females signal by illuminating the lower part of their abdomen as they fly or sit on foliage. In most species, the males use their lights to attract females. The male flies over an area where he is likely to find a female, flashing as he goes. A female perched in the foliage will see the signal and respond with her own. After a series of signals and responses, the male finds the female and mates with her.

The light show starts in June and can continue into August, as fireflies flash their particular message in search of a mate. There are seven species of fireflies in Minnesota, and each has its own flash pattern. Watch carefully for differences in the duration of the signal and the interval between signals, the number of flashes in a signal, the distance the beetle flies during the signal, and the time of day of the signal. Even the color of the signal varies. Species that are active at dusk, for instance, tend to give a yellow light, while those active in darkness tend to give a green light. Each species also tends to be found in its preferred habitat – swamp, woods, meadows, etc.

The light itself is created by a chemical reaction with the compound luciferin. Firefly larvae of many species also produce this compound, but rather than flashing they produce a steady light and are called glowworms. The luminescence is thought to serve as a warning for predators, as the glowworms may be toxic or distasteful. The larvae are voracious carnivores, feeding on other insects, earthworms, slugs, and snails. They follow the slime trails of their prey and stun them with poison injected by their mandibles.

The adult diet is not well-documented, though they have mandibles that suggest they could be predaceous. Females of a few species in the genus Photuris have been documented as exhibiting aggressive mimicry. These females, after mating, imitate the flash signal of females of another species in order to attract a male of that species. When the male arrives, she eats him! This behavior may be a way to not only obtain food, but also to obtain important defensive chemicals, which they do not produce in large quantities.

References:

Whose view? From where? — June 2013

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:11:41 +0000

You could receive a small prize if you are the first to correctly identify the photo above, or if we use what you write in an upcoming issue of Mississippi Messages.

Each month in this section, we feature a photo somewhere along the river corridor in the Twin Cities that is in some way significant or important or just plain scenic. Individuals may then e-mail us and identify the view and explain why they believe it is significant to the community or important to them personally. We'll publish some of your responses in the next issue of Mississippi Messages, where we will also reveal the correct answer.

To submit your guess and response, e-mail Bob Spaulding, River Advocate, through our contact form. The respondent to provide the first correct identification of the view and hopefully some interesting thoughts about its significance will receive a valuable prize for their effort. All entries must be received by the first day of the following month for consideration.

Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program begins

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:55:17 +0000

Four Minnesota watersheds were recently selected as pilot areas for a new program, the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program. Farm operations participating in the program will volunteer to meet unspecified water quality protections in exchange for a 10-year exemption on any new water quality regulations.

Agriculture continues to be the largest source of pollution to Minnesota’s lakes, rivers and streams, and it is clear that more must be done to address farm runoff. However, FMR remains concerned about the direction of this program.

After 75 years of relying unsuccessfully on voluntary methods to reduce agricultural water pollution FMR has expressed concern that this program may not have the proper design to accomplish the significant reductions in agricultural pollution that are needed to restore our rivers to health.

Despite our concerns, FMR will continue to monitor this program and engage with Agency leadership during its implementation. We remain hopeful that the pilot phase of the program will yield some positive results for Minnesota’s water quality.

Source: Star Tribune

Pioneer Press op-ed: Making our investment in clean water pay off

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:52:24 +0000

An op-ed submitted by Minnesota Senator John Hoffman, co-author of the recently passed “Clean Water Accountability Act,” highlights how the bill will help protect and restore our state’s freshwater resources.

“The Clean Water Accountability Act establishes a solid framework to ensure taxpayer dollars spent from the Legacy fund result in real progress and cleaner water. This is a major victory for our communities, economies and way of life.”

For more information on the Clean Water Accountability Act, please contact FMR’s Watershed Program Director Trevor Russell at (651) 222-2193 or trussell@fmr.org.

Drenched volunteers rescue hundreds of woodland plants

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:30:05 +0000

Photo: Lindsay Hefferan, FMR

Despite multiple reschedulings courtesy of the spring snowpacolypse and a constant downpour the morning of the event, FMR and DNR volunteers moved hundreds of native woodland plants out of harm’s way at Hastings Scientific and Natural Area Saturday, May 18th.

It is normally illegal, not to mention unethical, to remove native plants from parks (more on why this is), but these would otherwise have been crushed by upcoming summer road construction. When she learned of the construction, FMR Senior Ecologist Karen Schik developed the restoration plans for the area and devised the plan to save the plants, which included hepatica, Virginia waterleaf, and lady fern among other Minnesota natives. On May 18th, 17 volunteers and three FMR staff placed hundreds of wildflowers and other plants in more than 125 large buckets. The plants will be carefully watched over and tended this summer and replanted by volunteers in the SNA this fall.

For more information, please see this excellent article by reporter and photographer Katrina Styx of the Hastings Star Gazette.

Photo: Lindsay Hefferan, FMR

Want to get your hands dirty, too?

FMR is the site steward for three river-related state Scientific and Natural Areas in the Mississippi River watershed. Upcoming events at other local SNAs include invasive species removals at the Sand Coulee SNA in Hastings, Thursday, June 27th and Pine Bend SNA in Inver Grove Heights, Thursday, July 11th.

The fall replanting at the Hastings SNA will be announced in late summer via the Vermillion Stewards email list — roughly 8 emails a year on FMR volunteer and education events in the Vermillion River watershed (Lakeville, Farmington, Rosemount, Hastings and surrounding communities). To sign up email FMR Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator sue rich at srich@fmr.org.

Minnesota’s new municipal stormwater permit approved

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:25:46 +0000

Photo: Angie Hong, Washington Conservation District

After more than three years of work, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Citizens’ Board recently approved reissuance of the state’s “Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System” (MS4) general permit. The permit regulates stormwater discharges from counties, cities, townships and other government entities in urbanized areas, and is designed to prevent or reduce urban runoff pollution from degrading water quality in our rivers, lakes, and streams.

Stormwater runoff impacts water quality and community health in multiple ways. Stormwater runoff from roads, parking lots and construction sites carries pollution into stormdrains and directly to nearby surface waters. In addition, stormwater runoff moves quickly into nearby streams, resulting in increased flows, stream bank erosion, and flooding risk.

By better managing stormwater, new developments can mimic natural water flows and prevent downstream impacts.

As a result of this new permit, a number of cities across the state will be required to update and improve their current stormwater programs. Some of these improvements include:

Stopping illegal discharges: Mapping and tracking storm sewer pipes, investigating and eliminating illegal discharges, and training staff to recognize and report illegal discharges.
Restoring impaired waters: More specific requirements for preventing or reducing pollution to impaired waters.
Enhancing sediment and erosion control programs: Updating local erosion- and sediment-control programs to meet state standards.
Stormwater management standards: requiring new development to manage stormwater so that post construction stormwater runoff volume is not greater than preconstruction runoff volume.

This new permit is an important step in controlling urban runoff and protecting the Mississippi River for generations to come.

Visit the MPCA website for more information on the MS4 permit, including a webcast of the recent MPCA Citizens’ Board meeting and a copy of the permit and all supporting documents as well as information on the MS4 program.

Above the Falls Master Plan: Minneapolis Council embraces design standards, expanded parkland

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 22:10:48 +0000

Graco is one of several recent buildings along the riverfront that might have benefited from improved design standards, including requirements for improved materials, riverfront setbacks, vegetation, and windows.

Marking the culmination of several years of work, the Minneapolis City Council approved the new Above the Falls Master Plan for approval at its June 14th meeting.

At Council President Barb Johnson’s encouragement, the zoning committee embraced and included the specific language requested by the Above the Falls Community Advisory Committee and FMR on design standards. That language will set in motion a review of design standards for new public and private buildings built in the part of Minneapolis north of Plymouth Ave. That review of design standards would take place as part of a comprehensive look at rezoning in the same Above the Falls area, expected to occur within the next few years.

“We believe if new commercial or industrial uses are to locate on the riverfront, they need to clearly add to the sense of safety and place along the riverfront,” said FMR Executive Director Whitney Clark. “Getting the design standards right is essential in producing the kind of riverfront environment that will serve us well in the long term.”

FMR also worked hard to ensure that the new Above the Falls Plan only expands the amount of green space along the riverfront. To that end, the Council looks to have changed the plan to recommend a park of at least 200 feet wide throughout the Upper Harbor Terminal area. But where the boundary will ultimately end up remains unclear.

The Minneapolis Park Board seems interested in a boundary that goes beyond the 200 feet width. Some at the Park Board appear to think the railroad tracks which parallel the river about 400 feet from the river’s edge may make a more natural park boundary. A number of people have raised the question at the heart of the disagreement: how useful is it to create a 200-foot-wide business park parcel, surrounded on one side by a railroad and on the other a riverfront park?

FMR and others have urged the City and its Park Board to seriously consider a 400-foot-wide park.

The Park Board is in the process of adopting its own Regional Park Plan. Somehow, the Park Board and Minneapolis City Council must harmonize their plans. The Met Council, whose sign-off on both plans is required before they take effect, would likely not give their blessing to contradictory plans.

In the weeks to come, as the Park Board considers its regional park plan, we may get clues as to how these two possibly somewhat contradictory visions for parkland at Upper Harbor Terminal may be reconciled with one another. Watch this space for future updates.

Come protect the prairies, June 27 and July 11

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:49:12 +0000

Volunteers play a key role in the restoration of several prairies being managed and restored by Friends of the Mississippi River.

Did you know just 1 percent of Minnesota’s native prairie remains? Prairies are an important part of our natural heritage, and critical for our local wildlife and waters. Come learn about and help restore two high-quality metro-area prairies being managed by FMR staff and volunteers. Join us in the Hastings Sand Coulee, Thursday, June 27th, or the Pine Bend Scientific and Natural Area in Inver Grove Heights, Thursday, July 11th. (Capacity is limited; early registration encouraged and appreciated.)

We should note that these two locations are Scientific and Natural Areas (SNAs). Known for their exceptional natural features and rare resources, SNAs aren’t your average parks. They are afforded the highest level of protection, and while open to the public, intensive recreational usage is not allowed - meaning there are no paved trails, pavilions or permanent bathrooms (but we provide Port-A-Potties for volunteers!). FMR is the official site steward for three river-related SNAs in the metro region, working in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, landowners, local government agencies and volunteers alike to expand and restore them.

Learn more via the fmr.org calendar listings for the restoration events, both of which are relatively small ecologist-led habitat restoration activities. Join us for the Sand Coulee SNA restoration event in Hastings, Thursday, June 27th and Pine Bend SNA in Inver Grove Heights, Thursday, July 11th.

Help us earn a $20K 20th anniversary challenge gift

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:47:11 +0000

We have a special 20th anniversary challenge grant of $20,000 to meet, and we need your help to earn it. Your gift of any size before June 30th will get us closer to our goal. Without your gift, we may not earn the full amount of this challenge; with it, we can do more for your river and your community.

Friends of the Mississippi River has a long history of using our community’s resources, time and dollars wisely. The on-the-ground, measurable results that we have achieved together with our members and volunteers over the past 20 years are numerous, and range from stronger water quality standards in local watersheds, to almost 2,000 acres of protected and restored habitat, to educating more than 230,000 Twin Cities residents about ways individuals can protect and improve habitat and water quality. And the river and watershed are healthier and cleaner as a result.

If you have read the recent print newsletter, or been keeping up with the monthly email Mississippi Messages, you know that Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) is using the equity we have built over the last 20 years to the river’s advantage. You can show your support now and help us achieve even more for the river this year.

One way we are celebrating our 20th anniversary year is with unique partnerships that are helping us reach a broader audience. We are also leveraging the power of our collective voice in important decision-making forums to improve water quality and protect the public values of our river. And we are using science-based information from the State of the River Report, Natural Resource Management Plans, and award-winning greenway plans to map out and implement strategies for how all of us in the Twin Cities can protect, steward and enjoy our land and water resources – now and well into the future.

We continue to work hard to protect and restore habitat; enhance the recreational and public values the river adds to our community; build coalitions to reduce agricultural runoff pollution; help cities improve stormwater and urban runoff management; stop the spread of Asian carp; and to give you opportunities to enjoy our events and outings as a volunteer or participant.

Whatever resonates most strongly for you, your support right now will help us continue to provide our community with holistic, integrated strategies to restore, protect, and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed.

Please take a moment now to make a gift. Your support, and the matching funds you are helping us earn, will be put directly to work for your river and your community.

Your generosity will ensure that we can continue building on our hard-earned momentum to make a tangible difference for the Mississippi River and everyone who cares about it. We have made a lot of progress over the last 20 years, and look forward to what we can accomplish this year, together.

Thank you for your support of Friends of the Mississippi River! Please don’t hesitate to contact Heather at 651-222-2193 x20 or hhaynes@fmr.org with questions or comments.

Only a few weeks left to get $2 off Peace Coffee!

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:41:21 +0000

We only have until June 30th to get $2 off Peace Coffee and help the river at the same time. All of us at FMR are stocking up, and we hope you will, too. You can print as many coupons as you’d like, one for every purchase between now and June 30th. Please also help us by spreading the word to everyone else you know who likes coffee. The printable coupon good for the purchase of bulk or packaged Peace Coffee at any location around town that carries Peace Coffee or you can use the online code “FMR20YR” to get the deal when ordering Peace Coffee online for all your out of town friends who love coffee, too.

The discount and the 20% to FMR are valid until June 30th. Thanks for drinking your coffee with a conscience, and doing the river a good turn with your cuppa joe.

You can still sample Preservation Mild Ale – while supplies last

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:39:05 +0000

Fulton Beer’s Preservation Mild Ale is a shout out to FMR’s work to preserve and enhance the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities. During the release party on May 25, the tap room was full of FMR members and volunteers. The event also drew a crowd of people who were hearing for the first time that Twin Cities tap water, and the water that makes all our great local beer, comes from the Mississippi River. It was a good opportunity to recruit new members to help FMR ensure that the river continues to get cleaner and healthier. Thank you to Fulton Beer for helping us raise awareness of this connection and build support for our work. In addition, we thank them for the $1,000 they are donating to FMR from the Ful10 Fund.

It’s not too late to taste Preservation Mild Ale or pick up your growler. It will be available in the Fulton tap room, at bars and pubs around town, and in growlers while supplies last. Support clean water by drinking Fulton!

20 simple actions you can take to protect rivers and watersheds

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 21:02:04 +0000

As FMR celebrates its 20th year, we hope you'll consider what you can do to protect rivers and watersheds. Pledge to take action with 20 simple steps you can take in your home/apartment, in your yard, in your community, and in support of FMR.

Whose view? From where? — May 2013

Wed, 22 May 2013 06:13:59 +0000

We had two correct responses this month, even if one was part guess.

Eric Otterness writes, “This is the Mendota Bridge over the Minnesota River looking downstream. The entrance to behind Pike Island is just below this bridge on the left side of the river. This bridge is exactly one mile across. As a child my brothers and I always tried to hold our breath across it.”

Ron Middlestaedt writes, “I think I've met my match (again?). The architectural detail matches that of the Mendota Bridge but the “from where?” is puzzling. I'd have to say (guess) that we’re looking NE, and that the span is at the west end where the old Minnesota River channel passed beneath. We were taught in elementary school (Howe, Minneapolis) that this was the longest concrete bridge of its type in the world. And, I had heard elsewhere that it was constructed in such a fashion to support future trolley tracks. I often ponder that tidbit when I cross it.”

Match not met!

About “Whose view? From where?”

Each month in this section, we feature a photo somewhere along the river corridor in the Twin Cities that is in some way significant or important or just plain scenic. Individuals may then e-mail us and identify the view and explain why they believe it is significant to the community or important to them personally. We’ll publish some of your responses in the next issue of Mississippi Messages, where we will also reveal the correct answer.

Fun ways to support FMR during our 20th anniversary year

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:59:16 +0000

Over the last 20 years, the scope of FMR’s programs has grown to holistically address a multitude of issues facing the river and watershed, ranging from land and habitat conservation to water quality to recreation to public access. We are a community resource for ways to learn about, enjoy, steward and interact with the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities region.

We need your ongoing investment and help to be successful! There are many ways to support FMR this year. Here are just a few:

Join us at the Fulton tap room on May 25th
Buy Peace Coffee with the special coupon before June 30th
Paddle the Mississippi River Challenge’s 10th year
Sign up to attend our big fall event, An Evening Celebrating the River (email Heather Haynes, at hhaynes@fmr.org)
Join as a member or increase your membership support to help us earn a $20,000 matching grant
Volunteer
Get others involved
Give a $20 gift membership

We would greatly appreciate your support at this important time. Browse the website for details on this year’s fun partnership opportunities, or contact Heather at hhaynes@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x20, to talk about ways to you can help.

Thank you!

Ferns, Fern Allies, and Horsetails

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:56:07 +0000

Along with the perhaps showier forbs (wildflowers), spring is also a good time to observe ferns and fern allies, which are finally emerging from this year’s particularly long winter dormancy. If you are hunting for fiddle-heads, now is a good time to do it! Bracken and ostrich ferns are now uncurling their little heads, forming new fronds.

The old classification Pteridophyta (“ferns and fern allies”—which includes lycopods, Equisetum, Psilotaceae, and the true ferns) contains the vascular cryptograms: those plants with true vascular (conducting) tissue and structures, but without seeds or flowers—rather, they form spores. Not all of these groups are closely related, however. Recent molecular studies have shown that the lycopods are much older than the others, for instance. Also, pteridophytes were once thought to represent the first land plants, due to their abundance in the early fossil record, but more evidence has overturned this view. Today there is little doubt that the first land plants were bryophytes (liverworts, mosses, or hornworts).

Ferns and fern allies (more accurately termed “monilophytes”) are an ancient group of plants, dating back to the middle Devonian period, 380 million years ago (mya). Compared to the oldest flowering plants in early Cretaceous, 144 mya, monilophytes are much older than flowering plants. The heyday of monilophytes could arguably have been the late Paleozoic Era, during the Carboniferous Period, when many thousands of species dominated the flora—some had even evolved secondary meristematic tissue and attained the size of trees! Today they comprise over 11,000 species (much less than the roughly 300,000 species of flowering plants!).

Ferns are interesting in that they spend most of their life cycle in the sporophyte generation (that which produces spores). The gametophyte generation (that which produce gametes—“male” and “female”) is very reduced and short. A more ancestral trait of ferns is for the gametophyte to actually be subterranean (hidden underground). Contrast this with flowering plants, which have gone down an opposite road, evolutionarily speaking, and spend the great bulk of their lives producing gametes, while the sporophyte generation is greatly reduced.

In Minnesota, fern habitats are most commonly in moist woodlands (e.g., Onoclea sensibilis, Adiantum pedatum), shorelines and riverbanks (e.g., Equisetum), marshes (e.g., Thelypteris palustris), limestone outcroppings along major waterways (e.g., Crystopteris bulbifera), and shaded sandstone (e.g., Dryopteris spp., Woodsia obtuse). Ferns and fern allies can also be found in drier areas like open woodlands (e.g., Pteridium aquilinum, Botrychium spp.). They also frequent bogs and can even be found in standing water (Azolla spp.). Also look for them in fields, railroad rights-of-way, and roadsides.

One of the most common of fern-allies is the family Equisetaceae, the horsetails. There are only about 15 to 25 species of Equisetum in the world, yet just about wherever you go you it can be found. These distinctive little plants have stout rhizomes; erect, hollow, ridged, jointed stems; whorled branches and leaves; leaf sheaths; and sporangia borne in terminal cones or strobili. They are hard to mistake for anything else. To defend against herbivory and to provide structure to the stem, horsetails contain silica, which makes them very stiff and gritty. Historically, they were commonly used to scrub pans (hence the common name “scouring rush”) or to sand wood. Also, a tea called “cola de caballo” or “shave grass” is made from horsetail, which purports to strengthen bones and cartilage.

One of the most common native species of Equisetum in North America and Minnesota is Equisetum arvense, or Common Horsetail. In early spring, this annual produces a short, brown stem that bears a large cone at its tip. Later in spring, it will send up several regularly branched, green, sterile stems that look like a horse’s tail. To find it, look for groups of many stems along roadsides near woodlands. Recently, I saw lots of Equisetum arvense in the Hastings SNA, growing at the edge of the SNA, along State Highway 291, amongst spring ephemerals, like Virginia waterleaf, bloodroot, rue anemone, sharped-lobed hepatica, wild ginger, and early meadow rue. Although the same height as the forbs, against them, the horsetails looked strange—rather like living fossils. Not surprising, since their family traces back to the late Devonian period, 354 mya! It pales in comparison, however, to its ancient relatives of the Carboniferous period, of the genus Calamites—trees that attained a height of 65 feet!

Come tour, restore FMR’s newest stewardship area

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:49:25 +0000

Unfortunately, parts of Cottage Grove Ravine Park and the tunnel valley natural area are overgrown. However, FMR looks forward to getting to know more community volunteers as we explore and restore this habitat together. (Above, a volunteer helps to clear the way for oak savanna and prairie that will better benefit our local wildlife and water quality by helping to get rid of European buckthorn.)

Photo: FMR

Located in southern Washington County, Cottage Grove Ravine Park is a beautifully diverse landscape consisting of 515 acres of hills and heavily wooded ravines, with a smattering of clearings of old field and prairie. Due to the park’s varied topography, its slopes receive a variety of sun exposures, creating a compelling array of vegetation and habitats.

Ravine Park is predominantly a buried glacial tunnel valley formed by melting water that flowed under the ice sheet during the Wisconsin Glaciation. The ravine for which the park is named is about a half-mile wide with 80- to 100-foot slopes, and bisects the park north to south before ending in Ravine Lake. The lake, boasting of walleye and largemouth bass, is a pleasant place to fish, as well as a great location for birdwatchers to spot herons, egrets, hawks and eagles. Additionally, Ravine Park offers a year-round shelter with restrooms, hiking trails, paved trails, cross-country ski trails and a play area, all of which engage a number of park users throughout the year.

Importance of Ravine Park

Cottage Grove Ravine Park connects to properties owned by 3M, creating a pattern of natural areas across the landscape that forms a green corridor connecting to the Mississippi River. This corridor provides important habitat for wildlife and aids in protecting water quality. Ravine Park also has a nice diversity of habitats that are important to preserve and restore for a greater variety of wildlife.

Issues at Ravine Park

Historically, the slopes at Ravine Park were covered by oak woodland and savanna. Nineteenth-century accounts of pre-settlement vegetation suggest the park formerly was dominated by hardwood forest made up of primarily basswood, elm and oak. However, this historical vegetative cover in the park continues to decline due to proliferating invasive species. Outcompeting native plants for nutrients, light and space, invasive species inhibit the growth and health of native species. The degradation of native habitats adversely affects wildlife as they struggle to adapt to an unnatural landscape.

Specific invasive species of concern in Ravine Park include: buckthorn, black locust, garlic mustard, honeysuckle, Kentucky bluegrass, reed canary grass and smooth brome.

Restoring Ravine Park

In 2012, Friends of the Mississippi River began work to help restore the park back to a more healthy and self-sustaining condition. The park is currently overgrown, so we have focused on and will continue to focus on invasive woody removal. The larger picture of our work includes restoration of oak savanna and prairie throughout the park.

In the 2013 season, FMR will be offering public tours of the park, as well as volunteer opportunities to continue the restoration of this breathtaking site. While not part of Ravine Park, the June 29th Prairie and Oak Woodlands Walk takes place on the 3M-owned end of the same tunnel valley formation. FMR staff are also available to speak with church, community and corporate groups located near the park about its local ecology and how to become involved in its restoration.

If you’d like to be notified of upcoming events in or near Cottage Grove Ravine Park or if you are a southern Washington County group interested in hosting or arranging a presentation, please let us know! Contact FMR Outreach & Volunteer Coordinator sue rich at srich@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x14.

New parkland elements come into focus Above the Falls

Wed, 22 May 2013 05:45:16 +0000

Clockwise from upper left: a redesigned walkway on the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, the 26th Avenue Greenway Pier; sample trail markings in front of the Sample Room; the Lowry Avenue connector.

Photo: Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board

In early May, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board released initial designs for several parks in the Above the Falls area.

Scherer Park, on the northeast corner of the Plymouth Avenue Bridge, will be a signature space in the Park Board’s efforts to reorient the area’s riverfront. At Scherer, a new riverfront park will have a beach that allows for canoeing, kayaking and other access to the water. Hall’s Island, an historic island at the site, will be re-created as new river habitat. For a little razzle-dazzle, take a look at the “fly-through” video of the new Scherer Park design.

Other designs were released for other elements in the Above the Falls area. To complement development at Scherer Park, the Plymouth Avenue Bridge is to be redesigned and incorporate much-improved pedestrian facilities along its northern edge. To improve river access, a new pier will be installed at the end of the soon-to-be-developed 26th Avenue Greenway that runs through the heart of North Minneapolis neighborhoods. To help people find their way through the area newly-developing trail system, a system of trail markings will be developed. And a proposed connection will help people make their way from the southwest edge of the new Lowry Avenue bridge down to a future riverfront parkway below.

Before most of the projects can proceed, significant fundraising needs to take place.

Above the Falls Plans move toward approval

For the last several years, the City and Park Board have worked together to adopt a renewed vision for the Above the Falls Area. The land use plan was heard at the City Council's Zoning & Planning Committee on May 21st, and is expected to be approved soon. Major remaining issues include plan elements dealing with the site of roofing manufacturer GAF, the amount of proposed parkland at Upper Harbor Terminal, and the need for design standards to inform the planning process. Additional context can be found in last month's article on the Above the Falls plan.

Likewise, in the next couple months, the Minneapolis Park Board expects to move forward its piece of planning for the area – a revised Above the Falls Regional Park Plan. The Park Board will soon announce a public hearing schedule for that plan as well. Together, the Parks plan and Land Use plan will guide development in the area over future decades.

Peace Coffee deal lasts until June 30 – stock up for the river!

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:24:09 +0000

All you java lovers, here is a way to save $2 off your next coffee purchase AND help protect the Big River while you’re saving money! Enjoy delicious, fair-trade, organic Peace Coffee and make the most of this unique partnership by buying lots of coffee (you can print as many coupons as you’d like), and spreading the word to everyone else you know who likes coffee. The printable coupon [PDF] is good for the purchase of bulk or packaged Peace Coffee at any location that carries Peace Coffee or you can use the online code “FMR20YR” to get the deal when ordering Peace Coffee online – for all your out-of-town friends who love coffee.

The coupons are valid until June 30, so please stock up – your local river will benefit, and you’ll be helping FMR to leverage other partnerships like this in the future that benefit our local economy and support work to protect and conserve our local land and water resources.

Minnesota coal tar sealant phase-out legislation passes

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:20:46 +0000

In a major victory for water quality and public health, the Minnesota Legislature passed a bill phasing out the use of coal tar sealants in Minnesota. Effective January 1st 2014, no person shall apply coal tar sealant products on asphalt-pavement surfaces, nor sell a coal tar sealant product that is formulated or marketed for application on asphalt-paved surfaces.

This is a big win for FMR and the Mississippi River. This issue was recently highlighted in the State of the River Report, and was one of FMR’s priority policy recommendations to the State Legislature in our Mississippi River Policy Guide.

Background: A lesson in unintended consequences

Coal tar sealants (refined coal tar pitch emulsion) are one of several types of products used to seal asphalt surfaces such as driveways and parking lots in Minnesota. About 85 million gallons are applied in the United States each year.

Unfortunately, these products don’t remain on the pavement indefinitely. Over time, these sealants wear down and are carried by wind and rain into the environment, where they pose a range of potential risks to communities.

Coal tar sealants can contain as much as 33% Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) by weight. PAHs are a family of compounds that pose environmental and public health risks that have been found to be accumulating in stormwater ponds and freshwater lakes.

Fiscal Impact

Stormwater pond sediments contaminated with PAHs are considered hazardous waste. As cities conduct routine maintenance on stormwater ponds (cleaning out excess sediment as it builds up over time), the costs on disposing this contaminated sediments skyrockets. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency estimates that clean up costs for the stormwater ponds most contaminated with PAH runoff could approach $5 billion in the metro area alone.

This cost will only grow over time, and is a major reason why many local governments support statewide action on coal tar sealants. A recent Star Tribune article highlights the staggering financial risks facing the Twin Cities metro area due to PAH-contaminated stormwater ponds.

Human Health

Coal tar is listed as a Group 1 carcinogen, and presents a known cancer risk for humans. The PAHs in coal tar are also concern, as prolonged exposure to PAHs poses a cancer risk for humans as well.

PAHs from coal tar end up in our homes and businesses, exposing local residents to unintended health risks. Recent research indicates that residences with coal-tar-sealed parking lots have 25-times more PAHs in house dust than residences with unsealed parking lots.

Environmental Health

PAHs also present a variety of risks to aquatic life and health. Fish exposed to PAHs have been found to exhibit tumors, organ abnormalities, fin erosion, cataracts, and immune system impairments. Macroinvertebrates exhibit inhibited reproduction, delayed emergence, sediment avoidance, and mortality. Amphibians exhibit stunted growth, delayed development, organ problems, difficulty swimming, and mortality.

In addition, excessive clean up costs for contaminated stormwater pond sediment may push cities to forgo pond maintenance, resulting in decreased pond performance and increased pollution and flooding in surface waters.

Alternative Products

Asphalt-based sealants are the most popular alternative to coal tar sealants. While asphalt-based sealants do contain small amounts of PAHs, PAH concentrations in coal tar sealants can be 1000-times higher than concentrations in asphalt-based sealant alternatives.

2009 Legislation

2009 legislation restricted state agencies from purchasing coal tar sealants, and provided funds for notification and the development of a pond inventory schedule, BMPs, and model ordinances. Funds were also made available to communities for remediation. To date, only 6 communities have accessed these funds, which were exhausted as of September 2012.

2013 Legislation

On May 20th 2013, The Minnesota Legislature followed the lead of Washington State and became the second U.S. State to enact legislation, effective January 1st 2014, to:

Ban the application of coal tar sealants on asphalt-paved surfaces in Minnesota; and
Ban the sale of coal tar sealants for use on asphalt-paved surfaces in Minnesota

Thank you to Minnesota legislators for taking storm leadership on coal tar sealants!

For more information on coal tar sealants, PAHs, and recent water quality legislation in Minnesota, please contact FMR’s Watershed Program Director Trevor Russell.

FMR welcomes two new members to board of directors

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:18:59 +0000

New FMR board directors Julia Kaemmer and Chad Dayton

Photo: FMR

FMR is pleased to welcome Juila Kaemmer and Chad Dayton to its board of directors.

Julia is a long-time FMR supporter and an artist whose work is inspired by the natural world. She is currently the chair of the board of her family foundation, the HRK Foundation, and she has also served on the board of directors of the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Steering Committee of the St. Croix Watershed Research Station, two of FMR’s regular partner organizations.

“I have admired the work of FMR and revered the staff for years, so I’m excited to get a chance to work with great people and a great mission,” said Julia. “I hope to strengthen the FMR support base, however I can, in the process.”

Chad is a passionate outdoor educator with a special love for rivers. He is a field instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), an instructor for the NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute, and a guide for Wilderness Inquiry, a Minneapolis-based international outfitter. Chad also serves on the board of directors for the Minnesota Zoo Foundation and Dodge Nature Center (where he also volunteers as a teaching naturalist). Chad has been involved with FMR for a number of years as a Mississippi River Challenge paddler (with his daughter Eliza) and as a member of FMR’s Mississippi River Challenge Steering Committee.

“As a long time supporter of FMR's mission and participant in the Mississippi River Challenge, I am excited about the opportunity to increase my involvement with FMR's conservation, stewardship and policy initiatives,” said Chad. “I hope to bring a passion for FMR’s mission and activities and a deep appreciation for the river in general.”