The importance of the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota:

The Mississippi River is a world-renowned landmark - an icon of Americana that flows through our communities. It's a critical component of our everyday lives. It serves as a vital source of drinking water for thousands of people in Central Minnesota and beyond. It has tremendous natural resources values by providing important fish and wildlife habitat, and offering some incredible scenic views. It provides a multitude of recreational opportunities both passive and active. It's a receiver of both our rain (storm water) and treatment wastewater. It's an important source of power and gives us industrial benefits and it's an important economic development asset for its residents. Simply put; our lives as we know them depend significantly on the Mississippi River!

However, our interactions with the river should not stop there, as we travel north from the St. Cloud urban and suburban area we encounter more rural and agricultural areas that have not yet had the opportunity to plan with a focus on the River, yet this is the very landscape that will change most significantly as our communities continue to grow. 

The Mississippi River Renaissance goal is to unit both the urban, suburban and rural stretches of the Mississippi River within Stearns and Benton County by bringing resources and information to the people whose decisions and actions can help keep the river healthy. By creating a forum of communication sharing among river community decision makers we can continue to partner and work towards common goals that benefit the River. This project strives to be a landmark that "unites" and places the Mississippi at the center of our attention.

As we grow and develop along the Mississippi River, we change the river itself. For those of us who live or work along or near the river, practically all of what we do on land has some impact on the quality of the river, whether it be due to increased development and impervious surfaces, the production of agricultural and urban runoff, how we handle our waste, or what kind of changes we make to vegetative cover and wildlife habitat. Regardless of all the changes we make to it, the Mississippi River remains a critical part of our lives.

Mississippi River Renaissance River Communities:

Mississippi River Renaissance works with communities along a 27 mile stretch of the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota. These communities include: Benton County, Stearns County, Brockway Township, Langola Township, LeSauk Township, Sauk Rapids Township, Watab Township, City of St. Cloud, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Rice.

Milestone for the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota Reached:

In May of 2009, the Mississippi River Renaissance Project initiated a process of collecting community input to develop a Vision for the Future of the Mississippi River in Central Minnesota.  After several months for collecting data a Vision was developed that was supported by the community and endorsed by the local government units.

The Vision is unique to Central Minnesota and creates a foundation for future decisions. To learn more click here.