Freshwater Society

Three longtime citizens groups in the Minnesota River Basin - Friends of the Minnesota Valley, Coalition for a Clean Minnesota River and Clean Up the River Environment - are collaborating on "Working Together for the Minnesota River," a project designed to accelerate the clean-up of the Minnesota River. Subtitled "Collaboration Through Communication," the project has two major components:

• A video documentary about the history of the river from Glacial Lake Agassiz to the present, including an overview of current pollution problems and restoration activities. Produced in collaboration with Ron Schara Productions, the documentary will be presented statewide on commercial television, and it will be distributed on DVD to schools and other organizations throughout the basin.
• A "Web 2.0" website that will enable academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, businesses, and the general public to access and contribute information about the Minnesota River Basin. The centerpiece of the site will be an interactive map providing information about all public lands and restoration activities throughout the basin. An iPhone version of the map will be produced so that people can use it while on the road.

The project was endorsed by acclamation at the January meeting of the Minnesota River Watershed Alliance and is also supported by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which awarded the project a $10,000 challenge grant; the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; the Water Resource Center at Minnesota State University Mankato; the U.S. Geological Survey's Minnesota Water Science Center; the Minnesota River Valley Audubon Chapter; and the High Island Creek & Rush River Watershed Implementation Projects.

Visit http://mnriver.org to see a 3-minute video describing the project. For more information, contact Friends of the Minnesota Valley board member John Hickman at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .