presented by Friends of the Mississippi River

Friends of the Mississippi River’s Mission and Vision Statements

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

Vision

Friends of the Mississippi River envisions a river that is recognized and celebrated as the vital asset to our community. A river where the water is clear and clean, where it is safe to swim, where fish and wildlife are healthy and abundant, and where scenic bluffs and cultural treasures are protected. This is a river where residents and visitors can escape the rush of daily life to find solitude in a hidden backwater, mystery beside ancient mounds and the wonder of canoeing past towering limestone bluffs. Where you can catch fish that are healthy to eat. Where you can stroll through oak savannas and sand prairies alive with the diversity of our natural heritage. Where historic sites speak to the timeless connection between people and the river. Where the river is accessible to all and where development and commerce respect the river’s intrinsic public values. We envision a community that actively embraces this river ethic and welcomes its role as river steward for current and future generations.