Volunteers are needed to join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) at the Sand Coulee SNA on Thursday, June 23 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to identify and help halt the spread of cow vetch and spotted knapweed, encroaching plants deemed by the Department of Natural Resources as a threat to the health of this important area. Together, volunteers and staff will remove a patch of this weedy invasive, helping to protect the prairie’s threatened native plant species and improving wildlife habitat in just a couple hours.

With less than 1 percent of Minnesota native prairie remaining, this highly protected preserve is no less than an oasis in a desert of wildlife habitat – 14 rare plant and animal species call the Coulee home. The Coulee also help filter pollutants from runoff water before it can enter the nearby Vermillion and Mississippi Rivers.

To ensure a high quality experience, capacity is limited and preregistration required. For more information, including how to register, please visit visit: http://fmr.org/events/2016/06/23/work-night-rare-prairie