Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

06/10/2026

🛶 It's Day 10 of River Days of Action, and MWMO is inviting you to get out on the Mississippi River in one of the easiest ways to experience the river from the water.

On June 27, Share the River returns to MWMO after a two-year hiatus. No paddling experience? No problem. No canoe? We've got that covered, too.

Experienced guides from Wilderness Inquiry will handle the paddling while you sit back, enjoy the ride, and experience the Mississippi River from a perspective most people rarely get to see.

While you're here, explore the MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center, enjoy light refreshments, and take part in hands-on activities that connect your time on the water to the bigger picture: how the river works, why it matters, and what it takes to care for it.

📅 June 27, 2026
🕘 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
📍 MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center

🔗 Learn more: https://www.mwmo.org/events/share-the-river-2026/

After a couple years hiatus, Share the River is back! Join us on Saturday, June 27 from 9 a.m. to noon for a free, low-stakes way to experience the Mississippi […]

06/09/2026

🌉 It's Day 9 of River Days of Action, and today we're celebrating one of the Mississippi River's lesser-known superpowers: bringing people together.

On June 20–21, the Stone Arch Bridge Festival returns to the Minneapolis riverfront with more than 200 artists, makers, musicians, and culinary artists showcasing their work along the Mississippi River.

We spend a lot of time talking about fish habitat, stormwater, water quality, and native plants. (Occupational hazard.) But rivers don't just support ecosystems. They also shape our communities. They influence where we gather, how we move through our cities, the stories we tell, and the art we create.

That's one of the ideas behind Sacred Water Shared Future, a year-long campaign recognizing both the progress we've made restoring the Mississippi River and the role it continues to play in the life of our region.

So while you're exploring the festival, take a moment to look beyond the booths and performances. The Mississippi River isn't just the backdrop. It's part of the reason this area became a center for commerce, culture, recreation, and community in the first place.

🌊 Healthy rivers support thriving communities. Thriving communities care for their rivers.

🗓️ June 20–21
📍 Minneapolis Riverfront

🔗 Learn more: stonearchbridgefestival.com

Explore River Days of Action events at mississippiriver.org/river-days-of-action and learn more about Sacred Water Shared Future at sacredwatersharedfuture.org.

06/08/2026

🌱 It's Day 8 of River Days of Action, and today's lawn care tip is simple: mow high.

Setting your mower to three inches or higher helps create a stronger, healthier lawn. Longer grass develops deeper roots, holds moisture longer, shades out weeds, and helps absorb rain where it falls.

That means less runoff, less erosion, and a lawn that's better equipped to handle hot, dry summer weather.

A few bonus tips while you're at it:
✂️ Keep your mower blades sharp.
🧹 Sweep grass clippings off sidewalks and driveways.
📏 Avoid cutting more than one-third of the grass height at a time.

Sometimes protecting the Mississippi River starts with something as simple as adjusting your mower deck.

06/07/2026

🚲 It's Day 7 of River Days of Action, and today's invitation is simple: explore the Mississippi River by bike.

At MWMO we believe one of the best ways to care for a place is to know it. To ride alongside it, take in the view, and notice what's growing there. To understand that the river isn't just something you drive over, but something we depend on and live alongside.

If you're looking for a new place to explore, check out the newly opened trail connection between Ole Olson Park and the 26th Avenue North Overlook in North Minneapolis. This long-awaited project closes a gap in the riverfront trail system, making it easier to bike, walk, roll, and explore along the Mississippi River.

Behind the scenes, MWMO grant funding helped support the cleanup of contaminated soils and the restoration of more than two acres of native prairie habitat along the river corridor. Together, these improvements create a healthier space for wildlife while helping more people connect with the river.

As we celebrate River Days of Action and continue recognizing Sacred Water Shared Future, we're reminded that shared responsibility starts with relationship. The more time we spend with the river, the more likely we are to care for it.

🌊 Where will the river take you today?

06/06/2026

📝 It's Day 6 of River Days of Action, and we're celebrating the stories that flow alongside the Mississippi River.

On June 13, MWMO will host the debut of a newly commissioned poem by acclaimed writer and former Minneapolis City Council member Andrea Jenkins. Inspired by the themes of Sacred Water Shared Future, the work explores the relationship between the Mississippi River, our communities, and the built environment that surrounds us.

The poem reflects on a simple but powerful idea: the river shapes our lives, and our choices help shape the future of the river.

🌊 Join us for a live performance of the poem, remarks from project partners, light refreshments, and an opportunity to explore the Stormwater Park and Learning Center and our current gallery exhibit.

📅 June 13, 2026
🕙 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
📍 MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center

🔗 Learn more: https://www.mwmo.org/events/oh-how-the-words-flow-a-river-poem-unveiling-with-andrea-jenkins/

06/05/2026

🌸 It's Day 5 of River Days of Action, and we're talking native plants.

Maybe you've seen a rain garden or native planting and thought, "I'd love something like that, but I have no idea how to take care of it."

Good news: our friends at Blue Thumb can help.

On June 8, Blue Thumb - Planting for Clean Water and Metro Blooms are hosting a hands-on Native Garden Maintenance Workshop in Minneapolis. Participants will learn how to identify native plants, manage weeds, keep rain gardens functioning properly, and care for native plantings throughout the seasons.

Native plants do more than look beautiful. Their deep roots help absorb stormwater, reduce runoff, support pollinators, and protect local waterways, including the Mississippi River.

Whether you're already tending a native garden or just curious about getting started, this workshop is a great opportunity to learn from local experts.

🌱 June 8 | 6–7:30 p.m.
📍 Lynnhurst Neighborhood, Minneapolis

🔗 Learn more and register at https://bluethumb.org/event/native-garden-maintenance-lynnhurst-neighborhood-city-of-minneapolis/

06/04/2026

🚗 It's Day 4 of River Days of Action, and we're here to tell you to wash your car!

But wait.

Before you reach for the hose, here's something to consider: when you wash your car in the driveway or street, the soapy water, dirt, oil, and road grime can flow into nearby storm drains. From there, it often heads straight to local waterways and eventually the Mississippi River without being treated.

Commercial car washes are designed to capture and properly dispose of dirty wash water, helping keep pollutants out of rivers, lakes, and wetlands.

So if your vehicle is due for a summer refresh, consider heading to a car wash instead. It's an easy way to help protect the river while getting your car sparkling clean.

06/03/2026

🎨 It's Day 3 of River Days of Action, and today we're exploring the Mississippi River through art.

Opening this at MWMO, "Rooted in Water" by artist Tara Fahey is an immersive installation featuring lanterns, soft sculpture, and paper-cut works inspired by the plants, animals, and living systems that shape our watershed.

The exhibit invites visitors into an underwater world of wonder and reflection, exploring what we can learn from the resilience, adaptability, and interconnectedness of life in and around the Mississippi River.

🌊 Join us for the free opening reception on June 11 from 6:30–8:30 p.m. and meet the artist while experiencing the exhibit alongside light refreshments and fellow river enthusiasts.

Looking ahead, you can also create your own river-inspired lantern during free public workshops on July 11 and 18. Participants will build paper lanterns celebrating creatures and plants that call the Mississippi River home.

🔗 Learn more: mwmo.org/learn/art-programs-at-mwmo/gallery/rooted-in-water/

Photo courtesy of artist Tara Fahey.

06/02/2026

🌊 Today is National Mississippi River Day!

As part of River Days of Action, we're celebrating the river that connects our communities, shapes our region, and sustains countless people, plants, and animals.

We're honored that both the City of Minneapolis and the City of Fridley have recognized National Mississippi River Day through honorary resolutions, joining communities across the Twin Cities in celebrating the Mississippi River and the shared responsibility of caring for it.

This year's National Mississippi River Day is especially meaningful as partners across the region come together through Sacred Water Shared Future, a year-long campaign celebrating a century of progress in restoring the Mississippi River while inspiring action for the next 100 years.

A century ago, pollution had pushed this stretch of the river to the brink. Today, thanks to generations of community members, advocates, scientists, educators, and public agencies, the river is healthier than it has been in decades. But the work isn't finished.

💧 The future of the Mississippi River depends on all of us. Whether you're learning about the river, volunteering, reducing pollution, or simply taking time to appreciate the water that flows through our communities, every action matters.

Explore River Days of Action events at mississippiriver.org/river-days-of-action and learn more about Sacred Water Shared Future at sacredwatersharedfuture.org.



📸 Pictured are MWMO's Abby Moore and representatives from One Mississippi, Friends of the Mississippi River, and Freshwater following the May 21 Minneapolis City Council meeting, where the council presented an honorary resolution recognizing National Mississippi River Day.

06/01/2026

🌊 River Days of Action starts today!

Want to experience a part of the Mississippi River most people never get to see?

On June 2, Mississippi Park Connection is hosting Scrub the Lock, a unique volunteer event that combines paddling, river history, and hands-on stewardship. Participants will kayak through the Lower St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam and help remove trash and debris that collects in this critical stretch of the river.

It's a chance to see the Mississippi from a whole new perspective while helping protect the waterway that connects our communities.

Whether you're an experienced paddler or just looking for a memorable way to give back, this is one of the most unique opportunities of the season.

🔗 Learn more and find registration details at https://parkconnection.org/events/2026/6/2/scrubthelock

We'll be sharing more ways to explore, learn about, and care for the Mississippi River throughout River Days of Action, June 1–15.