Clean River Partners is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year. That’s three and a half decades of protecting and improving soil and water quality in the Cannon River Watershed.

This year marks Clean River Partners' 35th anniversary. Our mission has been clear since the beginning: to protect and enhance the waters of the Cannon River Watershed.

As fall approaches, environmentally-minded farmers are transitioning to planting small grains and cover crops instead of tilling the soil. This practice benefits soil and water health, carbon sequestration, and weed suppression.

Wetlands are often overlooked, but they are truly essential habitats deserving our attention! Let’s dive into what wetlands are, why they are so important, and how we can safeguard them during development projects like the Cannon River Fish Passage project.

We are pleased to announce the launch of a new project in collaboration with the University of Minnesota Extension’s Southeast Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships, addressing one of southeast Minnesota’s most pressing challenges: nitrate contamination of groundwater. 

Fall is quickly approaching, leaves are turning the beautiful colors we love to drive around and look at, and the age-old debate arises about whether or not we should clean up the leaves in our yard. You’ve heard it, I’ve heard it — we’ve all probably participated in the conversation — so we want to dive into this conundrum to determine if or when it’s better to leave the leaves. 

Trash that finds its way to a river affects so much more than just the water. It impacts entire ecosystems, as both humans and wildlife depend on it for survival. Having a clean watershed is essential for our community to thrive. Clean River Partners emphasizes this in the work they do, and every year they host the Cannon River Watershed Cleanup. There are many different sites with cleanups to target the entirety of the river.

Mayflies. We heard about them a lot this summer. Images and videos of them under streetlights, blanketing cars, and clouding sidewalks went viral on social media. They often get a bad reputation and are called a nuisance “river bug,” but the presence of mayflies along the Cannon and Straight Rivers actually indicates improved water quality. 

In a world where convenience often outweighs sustainability, it’s time to reevaluate some of our daily choices. One seemingly small but actually significant decision is whether to invest in a reusable water bottle.

Clean River Partners (CRP) is grateful to announce ongoing support from the Red Wing Shoe Foundation for hosting community events and conservation initiatives in the City of Red Wing and Goodhue County.

On Wednesday, Aug. 6, the new Horseshoe Lake Wildlife Management Area was dedicated, a few miles north of Waterville. In addition to the many who played a part in its acquisition and enhancement, it attracted dozens of other interested parties.

Clean River Partners is thrilled to announce that it has received a $5,000 general operating grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation to advance environmental sustainability efforts in southern Minnesota.