CRP Receives Grant Funding from Northfield Shares to Support Restoration and Conservation in the Cannon River Watershed
For Immediate Release
Northfield, MN — Clean River Partners (CRP), a Northfield-based environmental nonprofit, is pleased to announce it has received $12,000 in grant funding from Northfield Shares, their local community foundation. The total funds originate from two sources: the Nutting Beautification Fund and the Engeseth-Rinde Restoration Fund. Both will support restoration and conservation activities conducted by emerging professionals and volunteers in the Northfield area in 2026.
(Left to Right) Felicia Hokenstad, Jennifer Tonko, Anna Holman, and Jariya Goerwitz holding a check for the Nutting Beautification Fund grant.
The Nutting Beautification Fund, established by Ruth Nutting in 2017 to enhance the beauty of Northfield, will support opportunities for residents to actively participate in improving local natural spaces. Grant funds will be used for tree plantings, the establishment of native plant species, and river and stream cleanups. These efforts aim to combat the urban heat island effect, reduce the spread of invasive species, and strengthen climate resilience across the community.
This will continue work that began in 2025. During that time, CRP collaborated with St. Olaf Natural Lands to remove more than 100 trembling aspen saplings to help maintain prairie ecosystems, partnered with Sharing Our Roots Farm to collect eight bags of native prairie seeds, and protected young trees and shrubs alongside the Carleton College Arboretum. Additionally, CRP’s annual watershed-wide cleanup resulted in more than 33 miles of shoreline cleaned along the Cannon, Straight, and Mississippi Rivers.
The Engeseth-Rinde Restoration Fund, established in 2016 by Don Nelson to support restoration, research, silviculture, and education at the Engeseth-Rinde Unit of the Prairie Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), will fund CRP’s continued partnership with the Minnesota DNR, Friends of Prairie Creek WMA, and River Bend Nature Center. This partnership brings emerging natural resource professionals and community volunteers with hands-on opportunities in restoration and conservation activities at Prairie Creek WMA. The hope is that through this experience, participants will gain skills and knowledge and feel inspired to return as long-term volunteers, leaders, and advocates.
This funding also builds on successful work completed in 2025, when Clean River Partners hosted two restoration events and worked with 11 participants to restore four acres of wildlife habitat.
Clean River Partners is excited to continue both programs in 2026. They believe that caring for the watershed starts with connection, and these grant-funded opportunities help people understand the role they can play through the land they steward and the choices they make.
Folks in the community who are interested in volunteering can learn more or sign up for our mailing list at cleanriverpartners.org/volunteer-corps. Events typically take place throughout late spring, summer, and early fall.
