EcoChallenge March 2020
March 2020
Take One Action to Support the Health of the Mississippi in the Next 30 Days.
Tips to meet the challenge:
1) Experience the river up close:
- Most of us experience the river from a building or a bridge or a bluff. Get personal with the river to love it even more.
- By bike: U.S. Bicycle Route 45 and specifically the Minnesota segment of the Mississippi River Trail bikeway follows the river from its source at Itasca State Park to the Iowa border. Do it all or just a tiny portion.
- By foot: The National River and Recreation Area is comprised of many regional parks. There are several opportunities for walks or hikes that get you down to the water's edge.
- By canoe or kayak: Ok, maybe not in March, but you can plan now for a summer paddle. A great resource is Paddle Share. You can rent kayaks for use on the river. It works just like a bike share. If you want to head a little farther north, check out Clearwater Outfitters. They rent canoes and kayaks and provide a shuttle service. If you want to head a little farther south, check out Broken Paddle Guides. They rent kayaks and provide a shuttle service.
2) Plan to take a personal action to keep pollutants out of the river:
- Sweep up clippings and leaves before they add organic matter to the storm water system. Or take a further step and participate in one of the many municipal adopt a drain programs.
- Opt to reduce or eliminate fertilizers and chemicals from your lawn maintenance routine. You can learn about lawn care practices that contribute to healthy waterways in this video from the Mississippi Watershed Management. If you outsource your lawn care, check to see if your provider is certified in best practices for turf grass maintenance from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Training is free.
- Learn more about some interesting efforts from the U of M, food manufacturers and farmers to introduce cash crops that support soil health and reduce run off of chemicals and sediment. Future food purchase decisions could support river health.
3) Participate in a volunteer clean up:
- Friends of the Mississippi hosts over 60 volunteer clean up and stewardship opportunities annually.
- Come volunteer with the EcoClub! We are planning a stewardship event this summer focused on the Mississippi. Like our Facebook page so you can stay up to date with all of our events.
- Mississippi Park Connection also hosts many volunteer events throughout the year including RAVEs (River Action Volunteer Event) which combines an outdoor activity such as canoeing, biking, or snowshoeing with riverside habitat restoration all under the guildance of a park ranger.
4) Become an advocate:
- Friends of the Mississippi invites you to become a River Guardian.
- Be aware of proposals in your own community that affect the river. Learn how citizens (for example in Inver Grove Heights and Lilydale) contributed their voices and made an impact when their communities were contemplating land use and development issues. A good resource for these topics is the FMR blog.
This challenge originated after hearing from Friends of the Mississippi Executive Director, Whitney Clark about their mission to have a river where the water is clear and clean and safe to swim in, where fish and wildlife are healthy and abundant, and where scenic bluffs and cultural treasures are protected.
For many years the Mississippi River felt off limits in the metro area. It was an industrial engine that supported our economy, provided some great vistas and, thanks to amazing water treatment, great drinking water. But as a healthy ecosystem, it was deteriorating. The health of the river has improved. Eagles and other wildlife are coming back and much habitat around the river has been restored. Some pollutants have been reduced or removed, but others, like nitrates and triclosan (from antibacterial household products) are increasing. People can safely eat fish from the river as long as they follow consumption guidelines. More and more areas on the river are being preserved enjoyment by our entire community for years to come. All of this tells us that stewardship and advocacy make a difference.
By participating in the Rotary EcoClub EcoChallenge for March 2020, you will deepen your engagement with the Mississippi River either through recreation, through stewardship, through thoughtful yard maintenance, or through advocacy. The Mississippi is a backdrop to our everyday lives in the metro. This EcoChallenge brings it to the forefront and helps you see it in a new light.
Share your progress - the hurdles and the success - with Rotary EcoClub and your family and friends!