*More details coming soon.

Join us for a fun morning connecting with neighbors and cleaning up the watershed!

Our annual cleanup inspires community members to connect with nature. Thanks to the hard work of hundreds of volunteers, we can leave the watershed in better shape than before!

Pick from one of the EIGHT cleanup sites!

Cannon Falls Cleanup Site

• Riverside Park - 6th St N, Cannon Falls, MN 55009 (View Flyer)

Faribault Cleanup Sites

• Two Rivers Park - 14th St NE, Faribault, MN 55021 (View Flyer)

Medford Cleanup Site

• Straight River Park - 404 4th Ave NW, Medford, MN 55049 (View Flyer)

Northfield Cleanup Site

• Riverside Lions Park - 419 8th St W, Northfield, MN 55057 (View Flyer)

• Carleton College Lower Arboretum (West Gym Parking) - 1 North College St, Northfield, MN 55057 (View Flyer)

Owatonna Cleanup Site

• Morehouse Park (Warsinski Chalet) - 356 W School St, Owatonna, MN 55060 (View Flyer)

Shields Lake Cleanup Site

• McCullough County Park (Shields Lake) - 14398 Irwin Path, Faribault, MN 55021 (View Flyer)

Waterville Cleanup Site

• Lions Park (Picnic Shelter) - Corner of South 3rd St. and E. Hoosac St., Waterville, MN 55096 (View Flyer)

There is still time to support our t-shirt fundraiser!

We hope to raise some extra money as we put on our 16th annual Cannon River Watershed-Wide Cleanup! By purchasing one of our cleanup t-shirts, you will help us cover event costs and expand our capacity to do more impactful work. T-shirts are available in sizes small to 2xl for $30. Order one here!

Thank you to our event supporters!

¿Qué hay en el agua que bebemos? ¿Por qué seguimos teniendo inundaciones y sequías? ¿Cuánta agua se necesita para cultivar nuestra comida? ¿Qué actividades podemos hacer a lo largo del río?

Ven a explorar estas preguntas y aprender sobre cómo el agua juega un papel importante en nuestras vidas, disfruta de tacos gratis, juegos para toda la familia y actividades de arte. Conecta con organizaciones locales que protegen nuestra agua, apoyan a nuestras familias y nos mantienen saludables!

• Tacos gratis a partir de las 4pm, hasta agotar esitencias!

• Visite todos los puestos para tener la oportunidad de ganar un premio de un negocio local. Quédate hasta el final para el sorteo de premios.

Información de accesibilidad

Los participantes pueden aparcar a lo largo de las calles del centro, aunque el estacionamiento accesible es algo limitado. La zona del centro también es muy accesible para caminar y peatones. Hay bastidores de bicicletas cerca, bancos y mesas de picnic donde la gente puede descansar. El baño es un puerto-a-baño accesible.

• Estacionamiento accesible para discapacitados

• Baño accesible para discapacitados

What’s in the water we drink? Why do we keep having floods and droughts? How much water does it take to grow our food? What activities can we do along the river?

Come explore these questions and learn how water plays an important role in our lives. Enjoy free tacos, family-friendly games, and arts activities. Connect with local organizations that protect our water, support our families, and keep us healthy!

• Free tacos starting at 4 pm, while supplies last!

• Visit all the booths for a chance to win a prize from a local business. Stick around until the end for the prize drawing.

Accessibility Information

Participants can park along the streets downtown, although accessible parking is somewhat limited. The downtown area is also very walkable and pedestrian-friendly. There are bike racks nearby, benches, and picnic tables where people can rest. The restroom is an accessible port-a-potty.

• Handicap Accessible Parking

• Handicap Accessible Bathroom

Join us and the Regenerative Agriculture Alliance for breakfast and a tour at Feed the People Farm Cooperative in Northfield, MN. Here, meat chickens are raised in a regenerative ecosystem under a full canopy native to the Midwest. Additionally, we’ll learn about the Minnesota Agricultural Water Quality Certification Program (MAWQCP), a voluntary opportunity for farmers and agricultural landowners to take the lead in implementing conservation services that protect our water.

The breakfast will be catered by Ruth’s on Stafford, a local catering service in Dundas, MN, known for its home-cooked food.

The Regenerative Agriculture Alliance (RAA) is the non-profit arm of a larger ecosystem designed to build a regenerative, equitable, and socially just agriculture sector. They are focused on scaling up a systems-level regenerative poultry solution that restores ecological balance, produces nourishing food, and puts money back into the hands of farmers and food chain workers. Over the next two years, we are collaborating on a series of on-farm tours and events highlighting alternative and regenerative farms and farming practices across Minnesota. These events will culminate in a capstone event 2025 that will celebrate what we have learned and how we can continue supporting regenerative agriculture in the Midwest.

Accessibility Information

• Parking available

• Restroom available

Join Clean River Partners, Great River Greening, and Trust for Public Land to honor Don Redman's contribution to the new Medford WMA and learn about our habitat protection and restoration efforts in Southern Minnesota. Don, the former landowner, will share his inspiring journey of realizing a natural legacy on his property.

Wildlife management areas (WMAs) are part of Minnesota's outdoor recreation system. They are established to protect those lands and waters with a high potential for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing, and other compatible recreational uses.

Since 2010, TPL has protected 3,110 acres in the Cannon River Watershed with the help of landowners and outreach assistance from Clean River Partners. During this time, Great River Greening and the Minnesota DNR have restored and enhanced 498 acres of habitat in the watershed, and 452 acres of restoration are underway.

The Medford WMA protects thousands of feet of undeveloped shoreline along the Straight River and will provide visitors with recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, hiking, and wildlife observation.

• Read our recent press release.

• Learn more about this project.

How to get there: The Medford WMA is not searchable on Google Maps, but you can use this pin to navigate to the area where we’ll be meeting. Keep an eye out for our event signs! It is located near NW 86th Street, east of Cabot Avenue, near Medford, MN.

Join us for a tour of Sogn Valley Farm, run by CRP Cannon River Champion Awardees Karin and Dana Jokela! Come and learn how the Jokela family is enriching the soil and increasing biodiversity on the farm. Meet other CRP members, soak up the summer sun, and enjoy snacks made with Kernza®, an exciting new perennial grain.

Not a member yet? You're still invited! Come learn about the benefits of membership and connect with our organization. We'd love to meet you.

Accessibility Information

• Parking

• Porta-potty available

• Farm Tour will require walking and will cover uneven natural terrain

Join us for a field tour to learn how Kernza® can help protect drinking water. This is a valuable opportunity for policymakers, farmers, and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture to gain insights from experienced Kernza® stakeholders. Discover first-hand knowledge about growing and marketing this innovative perennial grain.

• 3:00-5:00 pm, Field Tour

• 5:00-5:30 pm, Refreshments

Accessibility Information

• Parking Available

• Restrooms Available

Join farmers, industry representatives, and elected officials on a free bus tour of three farms in the Cannon River Watershed.

Experienced farmers will teach you about profitable conservation practices in our region, including strip-till, no-till, cover crops, and winter camelina. You will also gain valuable information about Carbon Intensity Score, carbon credit programs, and market opportunities. The tour includes morning snacks and lunch. Register early to secure your spot on the bus for more Q&A time! There are 56 seats available, but you can also choose to follow along in your personal vehicle.

This tour starts and ends at Twin Oaks Farm in Northfield, MN.

Stop One - Twin Oaks Farm (Northfield, MN)

• The tour starts here at 9:30 am

• 8391 Hall Ave, Northfield, MN

• Conservation Practices: Cover Crops, Wheat, Grassed Waterways, No-till and Strip-till, Nutrient Management, Hogs

Stop Two - Honken Farms (Faribault, MN)

• Our second stop will be here around 11:40 am

• 5680 120th St. W. Faribault, MN

• Conservation Practices: Cover Crops, No-till and Minimal-till, Nutrient Management, Perennial Plantings (Kernza®), Prescribed Grazing, Beef Cattle, Wide-row Corn Trial

Stop Three - TJ Kartes Farm (Blooming Prairie, MN)

• Our last stop will be here around 1:45 pm

• 9800-10628 SE 54th Ave, Blooming Prairie, MN 55917

• Conservation Practices: Cover Crops, No-till, Oats, Wheat, Winter Camelina, Restoring Low CPI Soil with Crop System

Thank you to our event supporters!

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is offering a free virtual 2-hour Smart Salting for Community Leaders workshop in partnership with the Northfield Public Library, the City of Northfield & Clean River Partners. This interactive workshop will help participants understand the impacts of chloride on infrastructure and water resources and provide them with specific action steps to make policy changes in their communities to reduce salt pollution.

The workshop is open to city council members, board members of watershed districts or housing associations, and other community decision-makers who are not directly involved in road salt application or water softener use but could benefit from learning about the advantages of Smart Salting.

Chloride pollution from road salt, water softeners, and fertilizer affects the quality of our lakes, rivers, and streams, and leads to damaged infrastructure and properties. There’s no feasible way to remove chloride once it gets into the water, and salty water harms our freshwater fish and other aquatic wildlife. Smart salting strategies can help reduce chloride pollution while saving money and maintaining safe conditions for winter transit.

State, county, city policy makers, and other community leaders that make policy to govern other entities have an important role to play in chloride management and promoting smart salting strategies. Smart Salting for Community Leaders highlights achievable policies and actions that can be considered to assist with reducing salt use.

Who should attend?

• City administrators, superintendents, and other organizational leadership

• City council members, county commissioners, tribal council members, and other elected officials

• Members of sustainability and environmental commissions

• Board members of housing associations, neighborhood associations, or watershed districts

• Other community decision makers

Smart Salting for Community Leaders is an introductory workshop for elected officials, board members, and the general public. It is not intended as a replacement for the MPCA’s Property Management, Roads, or Parking Lot and Sidewalks Certification Trainings. Smart Salting for Community Leaders workshop does not replace certification acquired through other Smart Salting Certification Trainings.

What you'll learn:

• Environmental, infrastructure, and monetary impacts of chloride in Minnesota

• Introduction to Smart Salting strategies for chloride reduction

• Success stories

• Roles that community decision makers can play in reducing chloride pollution in Minnesota

• Suggested action steps and policy implementation for chloride reduction

• Tools, resources, and funding opportunities for chloride reduction

• Resources for education and outreach

The learning environment for this workshop is an interactive online format. Instructors will teach online in real-time. Participants will interact with instructors and other participants through live chats, polls, and class discussion using the WebEx platform. We require attendees to actively participate in the online interactive workshop in addition to completing the survey after attending.

Training questions? Interested in hosting a Smart Salting for Community Leaders workshop? Contact Angela Hugunin angela.hugunin@state.mn.us.

This training is co-hosted with the Northfield Public Library, the City of Northfield, Clean River Partners, and the MPCA Chloride Reduction Program. Funding comes from the Clean Water Fund.

*This event has been rescheduled again for Tuesday, July 23, from 4:00-6:00 pm!

Join Clean River Partners, the Trust for Public Land, Great River Greening, and our conservation partners to recognize Judith Altobell and her family for their land ethic and habitat contributions.

Former landowner Judith Altobell will share her family’s story of why and how they pursued the natural legacy they envisioned for their property in Rice County.

Wildlife management areas (WMAs) are part of Minnesota's outdoor recreation system. They are established to protect those lands and waters with a high potential for wildlife production, public hunting, trapping, fishing, and other compatible recreational uses.

Since 2010, TPL has protected 3,110 acres in the Cannon River Watershed with the help of landowners and outreach assistance from Clean River Partners. During this time, Great River Greening and the Minnesota DNR have restored and enhanced 498 acres of habitat in the watershed, and 452 acres of restoration are underway.

Directly south of the Sakatah Singing Hills State Trail, this addition to Sakatah WMA will also protect wildlife and improve the water quality of the nearby Cannon River.

• Read our recent press release.

• Learn more about this project.

Join us for a board meeting in July at Keepsake Cidery. The agenda will include a discussion about a staffing recommendation from CRP’s Executive Director following the departure of Conservation Program Manager, Alan Kraus.

Our organization is governed by a Board of Directors elected yearly at an Annual Meeting in the spring. The entire board gathers six times a year. These meetings typically land on the third Thursday of each month in the evening. Board members are expected to attend all meetings, actively participate on a committee, and be a member in good standing of Clean River Partners. If you want to join the board, check out our board member job description!

Join Clean River Partners and Northfield Rotary Club as we help protect the St. Olaf Natural Lands by pulling sweet clover! Lend a hand and do your part to keep this invasive species out of our prairies. Dress for outdoor weather conditions; long pants and closed-toe shoes are recommended. Bring a water bottle, too!

Sweet clovers (Melilotus alba and Melilotus officinalis) are non-native biennial legumes brought to North America as a forage crop. They spread quickly, easily dominating native prairie species with dense stands. The St. Olaf Natural Lands actively works to reduce populations of sweet clover to improve habitat and promote biodiversity in our prairies. An approachable and effective method is to dig and pull mature plants before they produce seeds.

Accessibility Information

• Parking

• Porta-Potty

• This event will occur on uneven terrain and require bending down, kneeling, and pulling.

This pin is for a gate with a parking area that visitors can use to access the Natural Lands. As with many things, Google does not recognize that the road running south is not a real road, but a maintenance path that Olaf uses. There should be plenty of parking at that spot and just across the road if more space is needed.

Take a Land Walk at Sharing Our Roots’ 163-acre regenerative farm and learn how they support 200+ immigrant, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ farmers and gardeners with equitable land access. The July Land Walk is centered around SOR’s Commons Cohort and will be led by Lucia Possehl, Commons Cohort Program Manager.

Remember to dress for the weather and bring water. The Land Walk will last 60-90 minutes and consist of light walking across unpaved, mowed terrain, with areas to sit and rest. Since Sharing Our Roots is a working farm, please keep pets at home. Please send any translation or accommodation needs to info@sharing-our-roots.org.

Not a member yet? You're still invited! Learn about the benefits of membership and connect with our organization.
We'd love to meet you.

Accessibility Information

• Bathrooms available

• Parking available

Join Great River Greening and Clean River Partners at Nerstrand Big Woods State Park for a special volunteer opportunity! Help expand tree canopy coverage at a historic, widely popular state park. Thank you for making a difference in conservation while enjoying a rewarding day in nature!

Volunteers will hike 1/3 mile into our work area via a flat gravel road. Park restrooms are available on site, with modern facilities at the main entrance and a vault toilet where we will be parking at the walk-in campground area.

Please plan to arrive 10 minutes before the starting time. This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide the tools and training required.

*This was previously marketed as an event to pull garlic mustard

Accessibility Information:

• Bathrooms

• Parking

• Volunteers will hike 1/3 mile into our work area via a flat gravel road.

Celebrate Pride by giving back to our planet! Join Clean River Partners and the Carleton Arboretum as we propagate wild strawberry plants. This event will be led by CRP's own Heron Mahr, a self-identified trans and queer naturalist, as well as Arboretum Director and CRP Cannon River Champion Awardee, Nancy Braker. This event is for all members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community (plus allies) and is part of the official 2024 Northfield Pride calendar.

Nature is queer! Let's get our hands in the dirt and celebrate it!

We will meet at the Arboretum Office at 6:00 p.m. and organize carpooling to the wild strawberry site. Dress for outdoor weather conditions; close-toe shoes are recommended.

Accessibility Information

• Parking is available

• This event will take place on uneven terrain and will require bending down, pulling, and potting.

Experience Feed The People Farm Cooperative, a cooperatively run farm where meat chickens are raised within a regenerative ecosystem under a full canopy native to the Midwest.

Learn how owner-operators Helen Forsythe, Grace Brosnan, Bec Ersek, and Cliff Martin run the business collectively. Explore regenerative practices and why regenerative farming means more than just improving the soil.

Join Great River Greening and Clean River Partners at Sunktokeca Creek Wildlife Management Area for an evening of seeding! Volunteers will be hand-spreading tree and prairie seeds and raking. Help us keep our public lands healthy and beautiful!

This is a family-friendly event. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to attend. No previous knowledge or experience is necessary, we will provide the tools and training required.

Accessibility Information

• Bathrooms

• Parking

• Distance from the parking lot to the work area(s) is between 800-1200 ft. There are no trails, but the vegetation is short and easy to traverse.

*Due to inclement weather, this event has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Join Clean River Partners, Great River Greening, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for a tour of Big Woods Heritage Forest WMA. We will discuss land protection, habitat restoration, and the ecology of the Big Woods biome. This event is a great opportunity to learn more about protecting your land or gaining knowledge about the natural environments in the area.

• Maggie Stahley, Conservation Program Assistant with Clean River Partners

• Brad Gordon, Associate Conservation Director with Great River Greening

• Shelley Gorham, Assistant Area Wildlife Manager with Minnesota DNR

Photos are courtesy of Peter Myers and Great River Greening.

Accessibility Information

• Parking available

• Restrooms available

Do you ever wonder just how much water you use in a week? In a day? Clean River Partners and the City of Faribault are here to help.

Together, we'll learn about water footprints and what you can do to lower yours. From the laundry room to the bathroom, from the kitchen to the garden, we've got tips that will conserve water and put some extra dollars back in your pocket. Come and enjoy this interactive presentation!

Accessibility Information

• Accessible entrance

• Accessible restrooms

• Accessible parking

• The meeting room is accessible by elevator and stairs.

• Buckham Memorial Library is a KultureCity Sensory Accessible Certified location. Sensory bags, weighted lap pads, and strobe-cancelling glasses are available upon request at no cost. The library also has a quiet area and designated headphone zones.

Join us for our Annual Meeting at Seeds Farm in Northfield! We'll start with a light dinner and social time, then move on to recognize outgoing board members, elect new officers, and approve amendments to the bylaws. Our team will provide updates on organizational developments and program reports. We hope to see you there!

Important Meeting Documents

• Annual Meeting Agenda

• Proposed Bylaw Amendments

Accessibility Information

• Activities on single level

• Restrooms (not accessible)

• Parking on gravel/dirt lot

Our organization is governed by a Board of Directors elected yearly at an Annual Meeting in the spring. The entire board gathers six times a year. These meetings typically land on the third Thursday of each month in the evening. Board members are expected to attend all meetings, actively participate on a committee, and be a member in good standing of Clean River Partners. If you want to join the board, check out our board member job description!

Come and enjoy some delicious tacos, craft cocktails, and great music!

With food from El Rey Del Taco food truck and tunes by Minnesota musician Adam Daniel, it's sure to be a great time. Chat with other Clean River Partners members, sip on a signature drink, and relax!

Note: Clean River Partners is not an event organizer for this event. We are just attending!

Accessibility Information

• There are a few small steps leading up to the front door.

• 10,000 Drops Craft Distillers is dog-friendly. Dogs are allowed on the patio and indoors.

• Non-alcoholic Drinks Available

Clean River Partners will be hosting two workshops in the morning and tabling at the Earth-Friendly Exhibitors Sustainable Community Action and Idea Fair from 12 pm-4 pm.

Water Conservation 101: How Big is Your Water Footprint?

Instructor: Heron Mahr

Time: 9-10 am

Do you ever wonder just how much water you use in a week? In a day? Clean River Partners and the City of Northfield are here to help. Together, we'll learn about water footprints and what you can do to lower yours. From the laundry room to the bathroom, from the kitchen to the garden, we've got tips that will conserve water and put some extra dollars back in your pocket. Come for an interactive presentation and leave with some helpful handouts!

• No Registration Required

• Accessible Entrance

• Accessible Bathrooms

Stormwater Smarts: Keeping Our River Clean

Instructor: Heron Mahr

Time: 10-11 am

You've probably seen storm drains around town — those big metal grates on the side of the road, covering holes that seem to go nowhere. These drains actually lead right to the Cannon River, and whatever goes down the drain ends up floating amongst the fish! Join Clean River Partners to learn about the many ways we can take action to keep our river healthy. Whether it's picking up pet waste and litter, planting a rain garden, or changing how you wash your car, everyone can make a difference. Come and enjoy some hands-on activities! This workshop is supported by the City of Northfield.

• No Registration Required

• Accessible Entrance

• Accessible Bathrooms

Building Community Capacity for Environmental Justice is a learning experience that centers on inclusive approaches to community-based work. This learning experience brings the Minnesota Humanities Center's "Increase Engagement Through Absent Narratives Workshop" to southeastern Minnesota with an environmental lens. Who benefits and who pays under current practices and systems?

This day-long workshop (lunch included) is designed for those who want to build better relationships with community members, partners, and colleagues. Workshop participants will use personal stories, conversations, and guided reflections to practice strategies that help engage others with respect and empathy, while also exploring four key concepts: Building and Strengthening Relationships, Recognizing the Power of Story and the Danger of Absence, Introduction to Epistemology, and Community Solutions.

Participants will learn about using the lens of place to develop inclusive approaches and spaces, implementing different approaches to knowledge and behavior, and amplifying community solutions for change.

Accessibility Information

• Accessible elevators

• Accessible restrooms

• Accessible parking

Event Partners

Please join us for a volunteer morning on April 22nd, from 9 am -12 pm at the Sharing Our Roots Farm.

Message from Sharing Our Roots Farm: At our 163-acre farm outside of Northfield, MN, we are championing how formerly monocropped farmland can be rehabilitated into a thriving native ecosystem. As part of our restoration work this spring, we have felled many invasive buckthorn and box elder trees and are looking for volunteer support to help clean up our natural lands.

Representatives from Sharing Our Roots and Clean River Partners will provide an overview of invasive species removal and the importance of native plants for our landscapes. Volunteers will support these efforts by stacking felled wood throughout the farm. Please come prepared with close-toed shoes, long pants and a long sleeve shirt, gloves, a water bottle, and sunscreen.

Did you know Dwarf Trout Lilies only grow in Rice, Goodhue, and Steele County? You won't find these flowers anywhere else on Earth!

Spend the afternoon with Clean River Partners and search for these beautiful blossoms. A Nerstrand Big Woods State Park Naturalist will lead the hike.

Note: All vehicles entering the park must have a permit. Permits can be purchased on-site or online.

Accessibility Information

• Restrooms Available

• Parking Available