Rapids Lake Education and Visitor Center Phone: 952-854-5900 |
The Friends of the Minnesota Valley is a nonprofit citizens group devoted to supporting conservation and management of the cultural and natural resources of the Lower Minnesota Valley and to promoting environmental awareness.
Who are the Friends?
The Friends of the Minnesota Valley and its predecessor groups have been instrumental in supporting conservation of the Lower Minnesota Valley for more than 25 years. The Friends were largely responsible for the establishment and creation of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge in 1976 and continue work today to complete the Refuge. The Friends are an advocate for, and promote awareness of the Refuge and the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. This is done through environmental education, community involvement, fund-raising, monitoring legislation and issues that affect the Valley, recruiting members and volunteers, and developing a Registry of private landowners who are committed to protecting and preserving their land. The Friends also operate the Blufftop Bookshop, located at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Bloomington.
Heritage Registry
In response to increasing pressures on natural communities in the Lower Minnesota Valley, the Friends are creating a network of privately protected lands around the Refuge through a program called the Heritage Registry. The Registry is a voluntary arrangement between the Friends of Minnesota Valley and landowners who choose to protect the biological value of their property. Registrants represent an "honor role" of landowners who volunteer to protect and preserve their land for the benefit of wildlife and the ecosystems that support it.
Corporate Partners for Conservation
The Corporate Partners for Conservation is a special program developed to meet the needs of the corporate community within the Lower Minnesota River Valley. The program is designed to foster a constructive working relationship between the Friends and businesses with an interest in land and water conservation, and to provide essential annual operating support for the Friends.
Long Term Biological Monitoring
In cooperation with public agencies, businesses, schools, and concerned citizens, the Friends of the Minnesota Valley is leading the way in developing a long term biological monitoring program for the Lower Minnesota River Watershed. This program is formerly known as the Water Quality Trekking Pack and will be launched in the Fall of 1999. Please call the Friends for more information.
Refuge Support
The Friends of the Minnesota Valley work to insure that ecosystem-based management principles are in place and that Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge is able to accomplish its goals of stewardship, biological monitoring, and education. The Friends work to generate discussion with other natural resource managers in the Lower Minnesota River Watershed and to create a common vision for the Lower Minnesota River Valley.
Membership
As a Friends member, you join approximately 600 others who act as the collective citizen voice for Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and the Lower Minnesota River Valley Watershed. Friends' programs are supported by individual memberships, private grants and donations. Members receive newsletters and special publications, a ten percent discount on merchandise in the Bulfftop Bookshop, invitations to special events and the knowledge that you are making a significant contribution to helping protect the Minnesota Valley.
Blufftop Bookshop
The Friends of the Minnesota Valley also operate the Blufftop Bookshop, located at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center in Bloomington. The bookshop carries the widest selection of natural-resource based and environmental-related books in the Twin Cities. Members always receive a ten-percent discount. All profits help conserve the Minnesota Valley.
