Mississippi Messages Calendar - October 2013
Tuesday, October 15, 2013 at 7:15AMCalendar 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.
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.)
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.
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.
For current event listings and more information on the events listed above, please visit our events calendar page at www.fmr.org/participate/events.
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