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.

Margie O'Loughlin Margie O'Loughlin

It takes a village to do land conservation

Have you ever wondered what is meant by public land? How does private land become public land, and why does it matter? Clean River Partners is actively engaged in acquiring private land and transforming it into public land.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

Protecting Our Habitats: A Call to Action for Our Community

Join us in protecting the habitats of southeast Minnesota! Clean River Partners, in partnership with Trust for Public Land, Great River Greening, the Minnesota DNR, and others, is restoring vital ecosystems through local wildlife management areas. Volunteer for restoration events, connect with nature, and help combat habitat loss in our community.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

Celebrating Water, Community, and Creativity in Northfield

Last summer, Northfield's Nuestra Agua, Nuestras Vidas festival celebrated water, community, and creativity. With hands-on activities, local art, and food, it aimed to connect residents and raise awareness about water issues, fostering inclusivity.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

Fifteen Years of Leaving It Better in Medford

Carla and Byron Brady have led the Cannon River Watershed-Wide Cleanup in Medford for 15 years, uniting the community to enhance local rivers and parks. Their legacy of fun, teamwork, and environmental care will inspire future generations.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

Restoring Nature and Building Community

The Sakatah WMA: In-Yan Bo-Sda-Ta Wa-Kpa Unit in Minnesota is a 160-acre sanctuary dedicated to preserving wildlife and honoring the Meyers family's legacy. Ongoing restoration efforts enhance its ecosystems, supporting diverse habitats and community engagement.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

Making Waves through Community-Based Work-Study

Ava McQuain, a Carleton College student, found her passion for environmental conservation through a work-study at Clean River Partners. She’s creating a social media campaign on local wildlife, merging her love for art and science to inspire community action.

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Felicia Hokenstad Felicia Hokenstad

A Collaborative Effort in Stormwater Education

Our partnership with River Bend Nature Center fosters stormwater education through programs like Clean River Rangers. Together, we empower youth like Evelyn and Caitlin to advocate for environmental stewardship, ensuring cleaner waterways for future generations.

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Margie O'Loughlin Margie O'Loughlin

How the Downstream Environmental Film Festival raises awareness

Wil Crombie is a local farmer and filmmaker who grew up in Cannon City, just outside of Faribault. On a day when he was film making, not farming, I found him at his studio, Man Alone Media, in Cannon City. Inside Wil was coordinating two monitors, balancing sound input and building subtitles for a film he’s been commissioned to make for the Downstream Environmental Film Festival.

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Clean River Partners Clean River Partners

Leading for Clean Water

Whether you've helped clean rivers, planted native plants, used cover crops, explored wildlife areas, or enjoyed paddling, we love that you care about clean water and want your leadership skills on our board of directors to help steer our organization!

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