Nonprofit Leader: Kateri Routh, Executive Director, Great River Greening

Article by Becky Fillinger

Kateri RouthDo you know about Great River Greening? They’re a nonprofit devoted to engaging individuals and communities in on-the-ground work that improves our land and waters. Kateri Routh was recently appointed as Executive Director – we talked to her about the organization’s goals, success stories and how anyone can help. Keep reading – there’s even an upcoming opportunity for you to meet up with her at Lake Monster Brewing Company for a one on one discussion.

Q:  Congratulations on your Executive Director appointment. Great River Greening is in its 27th year having restored 22,000 acres at 400 sites across Minnesota. Your website states that "we bring people together to steward their own land and water." How do you select projects for 'community-based restoration' in a state with such vast water and land resources?

A:  Each year we connect with our numerous partners (cities, counties, state agencies) to determine together which habitats are in need of our restoration support. Our projects often last for multiple years as the work we do often takes time and needs to be done in phases to be successful. As we don’t own any of the land we restore, it’s very much a partnership, with Great River Greening offering our science-based best practices, our ecologists’ expertise, and our long history of improving Minnesota’s land and water. And of course, one of the best parts is bringing community volunteers onto our restoration sites to help get the work done and build a stronger connection with their local outdoors.

Volunteers of all ages helped in Garlough Park in West St. Paul

Q:  Please tell us some recent success stories.

A:  We just kicked off a multi-year project in West Saint Paul’s Marthaler Park, which is used as a teaching forest for Garlough Environmental Magnet Elementary School. Over 100 volunteers came out to chop buckthorn and plant native trees, grasses, and flowers to start the restoration work. The focus of this project is to enhance and restore native habitats along the river to River Greenway Trail. This will benefit the regional ecology, including pollinators, and the many community members who use this park and trial.

Another interesting project is farther north in Minnesota at Pillager Point. Our work at Pillager Point (2 hours and 20 minutes north west of the metro) is unique in that it includes an archaeological survey which was conducted last year. The results were shared recently to the Pillager City Council. The survey documented sensitive areas which will guide our restoration and ensure we don’t disturb critical soil and the thousand years’ worth of history it holds. The archeologist will be pursing further surveys and potential designation with the National Register of Historic Places. Great River Greening will be ensuring restoration back to its historic vegetation of oak savanna.

Q:  Great River Greening promotes environmental equity. Please tell us more about that concept.

A:  Great River Greening believes that Minnesota’s natural areas should be accessible to all. From public parks to expansive wildlife habitat to healthy lakes and rivers, our work ensures that people experience the benefits that nature offers. We acknowledge that communities of color, indigenous peoples, and low-income communities continue to lack access to clean water and greenspaces. Great River Greening is committed to making inclusivity and equity core components of our work. We are dedicated to focusing on underserved communities, educating and raising awareness, and reducing barriers to access while continuing toward our mission of inspiration, engagement, and leadership in the conservation and caring of our land and water. Currently, we are in the planning and funding stages for a project in Saint Paul’s Frogtown neighborhood, working to improve a wonderful neighborhood park through invasive species removal, native plantings, and hands-on support from neighbors.

Q:  You're an avid birder. What's some of your favorite places to bird in the Twin Cities? Do you have a bird on your bucket list?  

A: I love birding as locally as possible. My favorite is my backyard! I’ve seen a White-winged Crossbill, Red-tailed Hawk, Swainson’s Thrush, Common Redpolls, many Black Capped Chickadees, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, House Finches, Gold Finches, and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, and this spring a Tennessee Warbler. Planting native plants in my backyard has helped a lot to welcome birds. I also love Crosby Farm Regional Park in Saint Paul and Bass Ponds, a part of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, two sites Great River Greening has done restoration work in the past. The bird on my bucket list this summer is an American Bittern, a heron that camouflages very well by pointing its head and neck straight up.

Ready to get to work!

Q:  Are there opportunities for volunteers?

A:  Absolutely. We have many volunteer events in spring and fall, the best times for the planting and invasive species removal required at most of our sites. This summer we also have pollinator identification field days in July and August, including training in advance. All our opportunities are posted online.

Q:  Will there be a party to celebrate your appointment? Is it open to everyone?

A:  Yes, there is a meet-and-greet on June 15th at Lake Monster Brewing Company in Saint Paul from 4:30 to 6:30 pm. All are welcome! I’d love to talk with folks in the community about Great River Greening and our work going forward.

Q:  How may we follow your news?

We are on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter. Folks can also sign up on our website to receive our monthly newsletter. Thank you so much!