In this article, we’re going to be exploring just how entangled Minneapolis’s history is with these two giants of the river system and discussing why this is so important to the city’s identity and future.
The Mississippi River at a Glance
The Mississippi river is a 3,797-mile river located in North America, rising in Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota and flowing southwards directly through Minneapolis. It is the second-longest river and fifteenth-largest river by discharge in the world and plays a key part of Minneapolis’s identity. In fact, before the city of Minneapolis was founded, the river was the route through which many travelers journeyed via canoe, arriving at what they termed “St. Anthony Falls”.
It’s said that the Native American tribe that was living in the area called the river “Mnisota”, which translates as “the murky waters” — a phrase that proved more than apt as the river became an important waterway for trade, transport, and commerce. This importance remains today, and Minneapolis has become an important center for cargo industry, with the river sustaining many businesses that rely on it for transport, as well as providing excellent recreational opportunities for locals and tourists alike.
The Missouri River and Its Impact on the City
The other key waterway that passes through Minneapolis is the Missouri River. While it does not pass directly through the city, it is a major tributary that flows into the Mississippi just below Minneapolis. The Missouri plays an essential role in providing essential drinking water to the city’s residents. Not only this, but the recreation and leisure opportunities that the Missouri River and its margins provide are fundamental to Minneapolis’s economy, as they bring in tourists both domestic and international, who come to see the plethora of activities on offer.
Moreover, Minneapolis has embraced its connection with the Missouri River and the wider Mississippi River system in its very culture. The famous band “The Bridge” is one example, using the rivers as the primary focus of both their music and their artwork. What’s more, the city’s signature event, the Minneapolis Aquatennial, was created well over 75 years ago and celebrates the significance of the waterways to the city and its rich history.
The Environment and the Mississippi/Missouri River System
It goes without saying that Minneapolis’s ties to the Mississippi/Missouri River system are nothing short of invaluable. The cleanliness and health of the rivers is subject to frequent monitoring and discussion, with regular water testing, pollution levels measured and the ecological health of the area closely monitored. This is incredibly important, since a healthy river system means a healthy economy, a healthier city and greater wellness in general.
What’s more, Minneapolis has taken an ambitious stance when it comes to environmental protection of these two rivers and their environment. There has been a huge focus on reducing pollutants and encouraging better waste management systems, and it is also one of the most active cities in the US in its work to reduce energy consumption and to engage with local stakeholders about sustainability issues.
As part of the larger Minnesota-Mississippi River system, Minneapolis is also part of an ambitious navigation system that was established in 1924. This allowed many vessels to use the two rivers as a reliable system of transportation to move goods around the region. This has been essential in helping to move products to the four major metropolises of Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, and Rochester. It has also been used to transport industrial pollution, farm runoff, and other wastewater downstream, where it then posed an even bigger threat to the environment. To combat this, the navigation system was updated in the 1950s with new lock and dams, while also providing recreational opportunities for citizens and visitors alike to enjoy the rivers.
Harnessing River Power for Renewable Energy
Besides their incredibly important function of providing drinking water and transport links, the Mississippi and Missouri rivers have also brought the renewable energy movement to Minneapolis. The Missisippi River has been used for hydropower since the 1800s, traditionally in the form of small, local mills. Nowadays, however, hydroelectricity has become a major source of renewable energy, with numerous dams and power plants built to harness the energy of the rivers.
Hydroelectricity is not the only form of renewable energy April Minneapolis is planning to use. Developments into wind, solar, and even geothermal power sources are underway in the city, making it one of the most forward-thinking in the US when it comes to renewable energy sources and attempting to reach sustainability.
Minneapolis’s Proactive Role in River Management
The connection between Minneapolis and its two rivers has meant that the city has taken a highly proactive role in river management. It is one of the only cities in the US that has oversight of both the Mississippi and Missouri, and it is clear to see this in the city’s plan for the 2050 watershed.
The plan looks to incorporate high-standard processes for effective water management, to ensure that Minneapolis post-2050 can not only sustain its current high-quality living standards but also ensure a healthy river system that is safe for citizens and visitors to enjoy. Moreover, this plan also seeks to ensure continuity between cities and rivers, by envisioning a system of even greater direct waterways for transport and commerce, as well as aiming to reduce energy consumption through more efficient transport networks.
Minneapolis as a Leader in WaterwaysConnected Innovation
Thanks to its intimate connection to the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, Minneapolis has become one of the country’s key examples of WaterwaysConnected Innovation. This is the innovative use of available infrastructure such as rivers, canals, and lakes, to create smarter and more efficient transport networks. It can also involve public spaces and places, as seen in Minneapolis with its promotion of the banks of the rivers as recreational areas and its work to reduce energy consumption and pollution in the river system.
Moreover, Minneapolis is now seen as a leader in WatersConnected Innovation, as its unique position with two of the most important rivers in the United States gives it a great opportunity to create and test new methods of transport and transport infrastructure. Through this, Minneapolis can become a model for other cities and states to follow, and show what innovative river transport networks look like.
Research Initiatives for a Sustained Minneapolis
In order to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for Minneapolis and its twin rivers, research initiatives from various local and state partners are also underway. For example, the University of Minnesota, University of St. Thomas, and University of Wisconsin-River Falls all have active projects researching aquatic health, river ecosystems, and best policies for sustainability. Through this, Minneapolis can ensure that future generations can enjoy the rivers in a safe, clean, and healthy atmosphere.
Final Thoughts — The Vitality of the Mississippi/Missouri River System in Minneapolis
Minneapolis’s identity and its ties to two of the greatest rivers on Earth are undeniable. They are key to the city’s history, unique features in its culture, and irreplaceable resources in terms of both transport and leisure. Moreover, Minneapolis is also at the very forefront of proactive river management, and its ambition in this area is one which many would do well to follow and strive for.
Through careful river management, continued research, and an ambitious WaterwaysConnected Innovation agenda, Minneapolis can continue to rely on the natural forces of its Mississippi and Missouri rivers for the foreseeable future, and in doing so ensure that these waterways remain incredibly important to the city’s identity, sustainability, and future.
