Our Stories

Everyone has a role to play in caring for the watershed, and we invite you to read our stories, get inspired by our champions, and help us connect with others who are passionate about this vital cause.

Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

The 4 S’s of Smart Salting

Road salt is present everywhere during the winter months. In large quantities, it poses a threat to fish, wildlife, and human health. So, what’s the solution?

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Margie O'Loughlin Margie O'Loughlin

Reflecting on our 35th year with message on water

Clean River Partners offers many ways to engage with the waterways that surround us. But sometimes, a person just needs to be near water. To watch it move, and to listen quietly to its voice.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

The Importance of Testing Well Water

As homeowners, it is our responsibility to ensure the water we drink is safe. Testing our well water should be a top priority, not just an afterthought.

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Ava McQuain Ava McQuain

Land Worth Keeping

Habitat loss is not just an environmental issue; it’s a community issue. Protecting these habitats isn’t just about preserving nature; it’s about ensuring clean water, stable landscapes, and thriving communities.

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Margie O'Loughlin Margie O'Loughlin

Clean River Partners volunteers at work in '25

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.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

35 Years of Clean River Partners

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.

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Mark Legvold Mark Legvold

October is Planting Season

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.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

Wetland Delineation 101 and Project Update

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.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

New Project Spotlight: Planting Our Future

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. 

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

To Leave or Not to Leave

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. 

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Faribault Daily News Faribault Daily News

Clean River Partners to host 17th annual Cannon River Watershed Cleanup

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.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

What do mayflies have to do with water quality?

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. 

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