A New Look for MWMO

MWMO has a shiny new look and a clearer way to tell our story.

If things look a little different today, you’re not imagining it. You’ll see a refreshed logo, updated visuals, and a more consistent voice across our website, newsletter, social media, and out in the community.

This isn’t just a design update. It’s about making our work easier to understand, more accessible, and more connected to the people we serve and to the Mississippi River we all share.

Curious what’s behind the new look?

*If the website looks a little off when you visit, try refreshing the page or clearing your browser cache to see the latest updates.

Sullivan Lake Study: Share Your Perspective

What makes a lake feel “clean” to you?

Sullivan Lake is part of a research study led by the University of Minnesota and the University of St. Thomas to better understand how people experience lake water quality — not just what the data says, but how it’s actually perceived by the people who use it.

While lake management decisions around topics like invasive species control or alum treatments are often guided by technical metrics, this project focuses on the human side of lake health. By pairing water quality trends with real-time feedback from visitors, researchers aim to provide recommendations that reflect both scientific conditions and community experience.

Participating is simple. During the 2026 open-water season, look for signs at public access points inviting you to “chat” by text message. No apps are required; just text the number provided to share your observations about water clarity, perceived concerns, and how you’re using the lake. You can participate multiple times throughout the season, and all responses are anonymous.

Input from Sullivan Lake will be combined with feedback from 16 other Twin Cities lakes to help inform future lake management across Minnesota.

The project is funded by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (LCCMR). For more information, contact the research team at LakeWQ@umn.edu.

2025 Annual Report Now Available

The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization’s 2025 Annual Activity and Financial Report is now available. The report highlights progress made over the past year in advancing our mission, goals and objectives, and outlines priorities for the year ahead.

Upcoming Grant Application Deadlines

The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization invites eligible applicants to apply for Action, Planning and Community Grants by Thursday, June 18, 2026 for projects in the MWMO.

• Action Grants are a type of Stewardship Fund Grant designed for projects that are significant in scope and cost. Proposed projects should demonstrate that thorough planning for the proposed project has already taken place. Grants of up to $50,000 are available for implementation of proposed plans.
• Planning Grants are a type of Stewardship Fund Grant designed to assist organizations to plan and prepare documentation for a project that will be implemented in the near future. Planning Grants help fund the planning process for detailed projects that help improve water quality through construction, education, outreach, or other creative ways. Grants of up to $20,000 are available for creating plans.
• Community Grants are designed to help initiate new projects through direct community engagement and encouraging water and habitat stewardship. Grants of up to $5,000 are available for short-term or small-scale water quality projects.

The MWMO is particularly interested in supporting engagement or physical projects that will reach underserved populations (communities not previously involved in MWMO projects or communities representing marginalized and diverse cultural backgrounds) and projects located in environmentally sensitive areas as defined by the MWMO Watershed Management Plan or the MWMO Board of Commissioners. Projects with existing plans created through a previous MWMO Planning Grant are strongly encouraged to apply.

Matching funds may be required. Visit our website for full details and eligibility requirements.

Stewardship Fund Grants — Thursday, June 18, 2026, by 4:30 p.m

UPCOMING EVENTS

Doors Open Minneapolis

📅 May 9, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
📍 Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

Ever wondered what happens to rain after it hits the ground in a city?

We’re opening our doors for Doors Open Minneapolis on Saturday, May 9, and this is your chance to find out.

Hosted by Rethos, Doors Open Minneapolis is a citywide weekend of free, behind-the-scenes access to some of Minneapolis’ most interesting spaces. It’s an opportunity to explore the systems, stories, and structures that shape the city — including the ones you don’t usually see.

At the MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center, you’ll get a firsthand look at how stormwater actually moves through an urban landscape and how green infrastructure, public art, and engineered systems work together to protect water quality and connect people to the Mississippi River.

Walk the site, explore the features, and see how this space functions as a living laboratory by managing stormwater, supporting pollinators, and turning everyday rainfall into something we can all learn from.

Oh, How The Words Flow: A River Poem Unveiling

📅 June 13, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
📍 Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

What does the Mississippi River mean to the people who live alongside it and shape it every day?

Join us for a special morning at the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization as we debut a newly commissioned poem by acclaimed writer and former councilmember Andrea Jenkins.

This original work reflects on the stretch of river that defines the MWMO watershed, exploring the relationship between the built environment and natural systems. Grounded in the themes of Sacred Water, Shared Future, the poem considers how we depend on the river, how we shape it, and what it takes to sustain it for generations to come.

The program will include remarks from MWMO leadership and partners, followed by a live performance of the poem.

Guests are invited to stay, enjoy light refreshments, and explore the building, grounds, and current exhibit.

Share the River Returns to MWMO

📅 June 27, 2026 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
📍 Mississippi Watershed Management Organization

After a couple years away, Share the River has returned as one of the easiest ways to experience the Mississippi River.

No paddling experience or gear is required. Visitors can simply arrive, step into a canoe, and let experienced guides from Wilderness Inquiry take care of the rest.

Drop in anytime during the event, take a guided ride, and see the river from a perspective most people rarely experience.

While you’re here, explore the MWMO Stormwater Park and Learning Center, with light refreshments and hands-on activities that connect your time on the water to the bigger picture: how the river works, why it matters, and what it takes to protect it.

Family-friendly and beginner-friendly (participants must weigh at least 30 lbs. to fit provided life jackets).

Photo of the Month

What looks like a small ball of clay is actually a delivery system for future habitat.

Here, an MWMO staff member demonstrates how to make a seed bomb by wrapping native seeds in clay to help them survive, spread, and grow in places they’re needed most.

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