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 f you've crossed one of the Mississippi bridges between Minneapolis and St. Paul as the leaves are turning in autumn, you know how hard it is not to just stop and stare at the beauty. That stretch of river is the only true gorge along the Mississippi's 2,350-mile length, and the mere sight of it left visitors from the original Grand Excursion almost speechless. We're very fortunate to have such a natural wonder—an oasis of limestone and sandstone bluffs, natural springs, and floodplain and hardwood forests carved out by St. Anthony Falls over 12,000 years.
The gorge is not only an important resource for us, but for the 150 bird species and 30 fish species that can be found there. Historically, there were 120 native fish species in this area of the river. Only 30 remain. That's one indication of the human-induced problems that are degrading the ecology of the gorge. Exotic species, foot and bike path erosion, suppression of fire, re-routing of water by pavement and storm drains, and litter all threaten this stretch of the river.
Nearly all of the Mississippi River Gorge is in public ownership. The land already has been acquired and protected from development. But like many other public lands, the health of the gorge is threatened by invasive species and human misuse. Luckily, it's bounded by civically engaged neighborhoods that understand the importance of environmental stewardship and good, long-term open space management.
With the help of Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, the National Park Service, and the St. Paul and Minneapolis parks staff, many of these residents are working to restore and care for this amazing resource, organizing formal groups such as the West Side Bluff Task Force and the Mississippi Gorge Stewards.
About the photographs
Large photo: Doug Beasley; small photo: National Park Service, Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.
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