Mississippi Messages September 2013
Tuesday, September 10, 2013 at 5:24PMCalendar of Events
Woodland Wildflower Rescue Part II: The Planting!
Saturday, September 21 — 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Hastings Scientific and Natural Area, Hastings
This spring, Vermillion Stewards volunteers dug up hundreds of ferns, heaptica and other native plants that would have otherwise been destroyed by road construction. After being tended for the summer construction season, we now need volunteers to help us replant the woodland natives in the Hastings Scientific and Natural Area. 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.
Explore Wetland Ecology in Tunnel Valley
Thursday, September 26 — 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, Cottage Grove
Join Friends of the Mississippi River ecologist Karen Schik and Washington Conservation District's Angie Hong to learn about the fascinating ecology of Ravine Lake and its surrounding wetlands! Participants will learn about native plants both above and below the water and use dipnets to get a closer look at macroinvertebrates living in the lake. Explorers will also learn about upcoming opportunities to restore habitat at Cottage Grove Ravine Regional Park, FMR's newest volunteer restoration site. Learn more on the event page, or sign up now with Lindsay at lhefferan@fmr.org or 651-222-2193 x24.
National Public Lands Day at Bruce Vento Sanctuary and Indian Mounds Park
Saturday, September 28 — 8:15 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Just east of downtown St. Paul
Join Friends of the Mississippi River, the Lower Phalen Creek Project, Bravely Be, the City of St. Paul and other community organizations to celebrate the continued restoration of Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary and Indian Mounds Park! Learn more and sign up via the event page.
National Public Lands Day Cleanup and Vermillion Stewards Celebration
Saturday, September 28 — 9:00 a.m.-noon
Lake Rebecca and Schaar's Bluff, Hastings
This National Public Lands Day, come celebrate and contribute to the great work accomplished by all the Vermillion Stewards! First, we'll help pick up litter along the Mississippi River at Lake Rebecca during the lower water levels of autumn, then we'll enjoy a brief celebration of Vermillion Stewards accomplishments with lunch and refreshments! All are welcome! 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.
Indian Mounds Park Walk and Talk
Thursday, October 3 — 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Indian Mounds Park, Blufftop, St. Paul
The area surrounding Mounds Park is as rich in history as it is beautiful. Join towboat pilot Hokan Miller and staff from Friends of the Mississippi River for this popular walk and talk along the bluffs overlooking the river and downtown St. Paul! We'll cover the incredible history of the park and the Mississippi River below as well as its exciting volunteer-powered habitat restoration. 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.
Oak Savanna Invasive Brush/Buckthorn Removal
Saturday, October 5 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.
Near 36th and West River Pkwy., Mississippi River Gorge, Minneapolis
Join Mississippi River Gorge Stewards volunteers to help remove invasive brush, including buckthorn — the invasive woody species that degrades our local native plant communities and wildlife habitat — in the rare oak savanna and woodland in south Minneapolis. This area includes the highest quality plant communities remaining in the River Gorge, including a mesic prairie and remnant oak brushland/woodland.
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.
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.
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