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Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council

Friends of the Mississippi River

Your Outdoor Heritage Fund at Work

Click the photo cards to view highlights of Friends of the Mississippi River's work, and sites of habitat restoration and enhancement
supported by the Outdoor Heritage Fund.

View all Friends of the Mississippi River Programs funded with the Outdoor Heritage Fund

View of Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area with view of river and hills.

FMR: "How we choose sites to protect and restore"

FMR Sites, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

North Metro Habitat

Prairie field at William H. Houlton Conservation Area.

William H. Houlton Conservation Area

Elk River, Minnesota

Photo © Chris Smith for FMR

From Soybean Field to Prairie: Before and After at William H. Houlton Conservation Area in Elk River

Elk River, Minnesota

Video © Friends of the Mississippi River
Featuring content from Chris Smith & Tom Reiter

Aerial view of Houlton Farm area to be restored.

Restoring a Blank Slate at Houlton Farm

Elk River, Minnesota

Photo © Tom Reiter for FMR

Prescribed Burns Blaze the Way for Prairie Habitat at William H. Houlton Conservation Area

Elk River, Minnesota

Video © Friends of the Mississippi River

Caterpillers return to a restored prairie.

Skinks and pollinators returning to restored prairie

Elk River, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

The First Prairie Bloom at William H. Houlton Conservation Area in Elk River

Elk River, Minnesota

Video © Tom Reiter for FMR

Riverside habitat with trees and plants at Camp Cozy Park.

Camp Cozy Park

Elk River, Minnesota

Photo © Mike Durenberger for FMR

River banks with trees and grasses at Davis Farm Park.

Davis Farm Park

Otsego, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

A sandy floodplain along the Crow River at Highlands of River Pointe Preserve.

Highlands of River Pointe Preserve

Otsego, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Cottage Grove Area Habitat Corridor

How we protect land: The story of Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area

Dakota County, Minnesota

Video © Friends of the Mississippi River

View of Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area with view of river and hills.

Pine Bend Bluffs Natural Area

Dakota County, Minnesota

Photo © Steve Cronin for FMR

View of the Mississippi River from Schaar's Bluff at Spring Lake Park Reserve.

Spring Lake Park Reserve

Dakota County, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Aerial photograph of rolling hills at Grey Cloud SNA.

Grey Cloud Dunes Scientific and Natural Area

Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Photo © Mike Durenberger for FMR

View of surrounding habitat from blufflands at Camels Hump Park.

Camels Hump Park and Open Space

Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Prairie plants in bloom at Rosemount Wildlife Preserve.

FMR: "Ready, Set, Restore! New Cottage Grove Restoration Begins"

Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Restoration activity at Cottage Grove Ravine Park.

Cottage Grove Ravine Park

Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Visitors canoe on the Mississippi River at Settler's Island.

Settlers Island

Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Volunteers work to restore a hillside at sunset with the Mississippi River in the background.

River Oaks Park

Cottage Grove, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

River shoreline with plants at Riverside Park.

Riverside Park

St. Paul Park, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Aerial photo of converted prairie and oak savanna at Harmon Park Preserve.

Harmon Park Reserve and Salem Hills Park

Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

Photo © Mike Durenberger for FMR

A calm lake surrounded by woodlands at Seidls Lake Park.

Seidls Lake Park

Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Vermillion River Corridor

The Power of Habitat Corridors

Dakota County, Minnesota

Video © Mike Dureberger for FMR

Forested shoreline at Gores Pool WMA.

Gores Wildlife Management Area

Hastings, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Volunteers enhance habitat at Vermillion River Linear Park.

Vermillion River Linear Park

Hastings, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Prairie plants in bloom at Hastings Sand Coulee SNA.

Hastings Sand Coulee Scientific and Natural Area

Dakota County, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Flowing waterfall at Vermillion Falls Park.

Vermillion Falls Park

Hastings, Minnesota

Photo © Tom Reiter for FMR

Flowers in bloom at Hastings River Flats park.

Hastings River Flats

Hastings, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Ruins of an old mill along the river shore at Old Mill Park.

Old Mill Park

Funded by Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program

Hastings, Minnesota

Photo © Tom Reiter for FMR

Volunteers enhance habitat at Vermillion River Linear Park.

Southwest Park Ponding Basin

Funded by Conservation Partners Legacy Grant Program

Hastings, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Aerial view of oak forest habitat at Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area.

Hampton Woods Wildlife Management Area

Hampton, Minnesota

Photo © Tom Reiter for FMR

Oak woods protected in the heart of Dakota County!

Hampton, Minnesota

Video © Friends of the Mississippi River

Restored prairie and riparian habitat at the Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area.

Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area

Dakota County, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

Prairie plants in bloom at Rosemount Wildlife Preserve.

Rosemount Wildlife Preserve

Rosemount, Minnesota

Photo © Friends of the Mississippi River

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