Our Vision

Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) advocates a new vision for the Mississippi, especially the river and its watershed in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Through active leadership and education, we seek to preserve and restore the river’s fish and wildlife, its vital floodplains and scenic bluffs, its natural and cultural treasures, its beauty and its romance. We envision a river on which small boats are safe and welcome, to which we have clear and easy access and in which we can safely swim and fish. We envision a river that is cleaner, healthier, more alive and more inviting, a river no one can ignore or take for granted.

Our Mission

Friends of the Mississippi River is a leading citizen organization working to protect and enhance the Mississippi River and its watershed in the Twin Cities area. We believe the tremendous ecological, cultural, scenic and recreational values of the river must be carefully tended to ensure that they continue to be shared equally by all citizens and that they endure for future generations. We accomplish these goals through three interrelated programs.

Land Conservation

We work with public and private landowners to protect, restore and manage important natural areas along the river and its key tributaries.

Watershed Protection

Working with citizens and local governments, we draw attention to the health of local rivers, lakes and wetlands and bring citizen opinion to bear on decisions that improve water quality.

River Corridor Stewardship

The Mississippi River cannot protect itself. We engage citizens in a variety of educational, recreational, and volunteer stewardship activities that support their desire and give them the understanding to advocate on behalf of the river's public values at City Hall or the State Capitol.

Read more on our program areas page…

Our Organization

With over 1,400 members, 17 active board members, and nine full-time and seven part-time staff, Friends of the Mississippi River is a leading citizen organization working to protect and enhance the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. We were founded in 1993. In 2007, our river stewardship programs engaged over 2,500 volunteers in hands-on activities that improve the health of the Mississippi River.

Addtional details about our program work are available thoughout this site, and funder and financial information can be found in our Annual Reports.

Friends of the Mississippi River is recognized as a charitable 501(c)3 organization by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and is incorporated and registered as a charity in the State of Minnesota.

FMR has been reviewed by the Charities Review Council of Minnesota, and we have met all their accountability standards. Their review is available for public viewing at their web site.