The Minnesota River in Granite Falls, MN, is the site for a recently funded study to determine whether a whitewater park would be feasible for a 3-mile stretch beginning at the Granite Falls Dam and ending downstream at the Minnesota Falls rapids. On Monday, September 21st, the Granite Falls City Council unanimously voted to […]
Minnesota River in Granite Falls is Site for Whitewater Park Study Read More »
About three weeks ago, CURE received a call from a landowner because he and three of his neighbors had been notified of a public hearing regarding a variance request from Duininck Inc.: the company wanted to mine gravel less than 500 feet from the Minnesota River. While there were already pits in place from the
Citizen Engagement at Public Hearing Shuts Down Mining Proposal Read More »
The MPCA Citizens’ Board may yet live, as the Governor’s Committee to Advise the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. As you may remember, the 2015 legislative session ended in near chaos. Post by Ariel Herrod, Water Program Coordinator.
Legislative and Gubernatorial Stubbornness Pay Off Read More »
As slimy green algal sludge started to overtake our waterways for the summer, a news piece with a bold headline took Minnesota by storm.
It’s True: Big Ag is conquering Minnesota like a noxious, unkillable weed! Read More »
Conservationists keeping an eye on the 2015 Minnesota Legislative Session witnessed an ugly series of train wrecks as environmental safeguard after environmental safeguard came under attack. This was particularly difficult for out-state conservationists, as they watched their elected officials make one bad policy move after another.
2015 End of Session Update: Dayton continues to be a water champion Read More »
Though there was a flurry of activity in early March when the buffer bills (HF 1534 and SF 1537) were introduced, since then, much of the public legislative activity around buffers has stalled. A hearing in the House Environment and Natural Resources Committee went nowhere, and while the Senate Bill was passed out of the Environment and Energy Committee with ease, it was never heard in the Senate Jobs, Agriculture, and Rural Development Committee, the next stop on the train.
Buffers Now! Update: Though the Legislature is Stalling, Public Pressure is On Read More »
CURE is proud to announce that our long-standing relationship with the McKnight Foundation will continue through 2015 and 2016. In November of last year, CURE received word that the board of the McKnight Foundation approved a two-year grant to support the organization’s Water Program.
McKnight Foundation Renews CURE Support Read More »
Thanksgiving is a time of relection and gratitude, especially for the food that sustains us, the bounty of our soil. The work, thought, and decisions that go into farming are constantly awe-inspiring, and the impacts that these decisions have on our land and our bodies reminds us of the power that farmers have. Blog pst by Ariel Herrod.
Thankful for our beginning farmers Read More »
Thursday, September 18th, 2014 was a historic day for Big Stone Lake, near the Minnesota River headwaters. Blog post by Ariel Herrod, Water Program Coordinator.
Partnership and Years of Improvements Bring Lake Sturgeon Back to the Minnesota Basin Read More »
This is the third part in a multipart series called Groundwater 101. Groundwater 101 provides the foundation for a good working understanding of groundwater—the source of drinking water for 75% of Minnesotans. Post by Ariel Herrod, Watershed Sustainability Program Coordinator.
Groundwater 101: Why Should I Care? Read More »
Kelsey Olson (she/her) joined CURE in 2025 as its Director of Environmental Stewardship. As a skilled environmental naturalist, Kelsey’s work focuses broadly on environmental education and advocacy with a keen focus on rural land use and how that use impacts our environment and climate. Working Lands, how land is used to support agriculture and forestry, is a key focus of her work. She brings 15 years’ experience in public communication, environmental education, and rural community engagement – strong communication strategies are core in her work. This includes two terms of service with AmeriCorps in the VISTA program in Oregon and Maryland and a nearly 10-year career as a naturalist followed. She recently worked on communications and marketing for rural economic development.
Kelsey lives in New London, MN, with her young children, husband, dog, and two cats. They enjoy spending time together outside and finding small treasures in nature. Visits to Minneapolis often include visits to one of their favorite historical museums, the Minnesota Swedish Institute. Kelsey enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, whether this is canning local produce, making kombucha, or other treats!
