Minnesota Public Radio Focuses on Water Issues Throughout Month of April

Mar 28, 2018

ST. PAUL, Minn., March 28, 2018 -- Minnesota Public Radio has announced a month-long series of special programs and activities designed to raise public awareness of water resources. This unprecedented focus on a single issue will take place throughout the month of April, aligning with the worldwide celebration of Earth Day on April 22.

Many MPR news and music shows in April will focus on Minnesotans’ deep connection to water, with water-themed programming on many of MPR's broadcast shows and digital platforms, and live events coordinated with local partnerships around the state.

“Water is a vitally important resource, but it’s one we all tend to take for granted,” said Amy Cole, managing director of MPR’s water initiative. “It’s important for the public to know where its water comes from, the impact it has on our daily lives, and the risks we face when that resource is threatened.”

MPR News special programming will include “Minnesota Water Vignettes”, in which Minnesotans share their connection to different bodies of water around the state; “Minnesotans and Water”, news reports by MPR reporter Kirsti Marohn focusing on the state’s water issues; a “Minnesota’s Most-Loved Lake” bracket-style competition in which the public can vote; and a panel discussion on aquatic invasive species in the state, hosted by Chris Farrell.

In addition, MPR’s alternative music service The Current will host a “Mississippi River Show” featuring local music written in celebration of the Mississippi River on April 14. Classical MPR will offer a week of water-themed music on the week of April 16.

Below is a full list of the happenings being planned by MPR through the month of April:

MPR News – Water-focused reporting and programming, including those below:

  • Minnesota Water Vignettes – MPR News will air a series of vignettes featuring Minnesotans sharing their personal relationships to the bodies of water around the state that inspire them. Date: All month

  • Minnesotans and Water – MPR water reporter Kirsti Marohn will share insights from two recent MPR research projects exploring what Minnesotans understand (or don’t) about our state’s water issues. Date: April 2

  • Research Lab White Paper – APM’s Research Lab publishes a white paper on Minnesotans’ views of water resources, based on questions in the 2017 Ground Level Survey of Minnesotans. Date: Week of April 2

  • Minnesota's Most Loved Lake – MPR News digital will develop and host a social media campaign to identify Minnesota’s ‘Most Loved Lake.’ Open voting begins the first week of April, and in subsequent weeks the competitors will be whittled down through bracket-style voting. The winning lake's community will earn a pop-up MPR performance. Vote at www.watermain.org and follow #MNLakeLove on social media. Date: All month

  • Aquatic Invasive Species Special – Chris Farrell hosts a panel discussion on aquatic invasive species – and why they should matter to people beyond those with lakefront property.The program airs on MPR News Presents. Date: April 2

The Current – The Current will host “The Mississippi River Show,” featuring music inspired by the Mississippi River. From the headwaters of Lake Itasca to the delta and Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River inspires music from northern Minnesota to southern Louisiana. Date: April 14, 3 p.m.-7 p.m.

Classical MPR – Classical MPR will feature a week of water-inspired music and some trivia on Morning Glories and the Daily Download. Date: Week of April 16

National Geographic Live!: Standing at the Water's Edge – Cristina Mittermeier, Mexican-born marine biologist and award-winning photojournalist, will be at the Fitzgerald Theater to share her work with three indigenous groups – from the Amazon, British Columbia and Hawaii – and their relationship to the waters they rely on. Date: April 19 at 7 p.m. More information available online here.

Beer Choir Twin Cities Sing-Along – In partnership with Classical MPR, Beer Choir Twin Cities will feature water at their sing-along at the Fitzgerald Theater. The night will be a celebration of local beer and local water, with friends from the Water Bar on hand with “water tastings.” Date: April 21, 6 p.m. More information available online here.

Climate Cast – The “climate hero” segment of Climate Cast will feature individuals working at the intersection of climate and water issues. Date: All month

Climate Cast Live – Join MPR’s Chief Meteorologist Paul Huttner and his expert guests for an evening of discovery about the state of our planet and the climate heroes who are working to help save it. Climate Cast will be live at the Fitzgerald Theatre with a panel focused on climate, water and equity solutions featuring Radhika Fox from the US Water Alliance. Date: April 26 at 7 p.m. More information available online here.

Community Volunteer Event – The community will get hands-on with water and volunteer side-by-side with MPR staff and hosts on a project to improve water quality. Teams will yank out invasive buckthorn shrubs and plant native wildflowers and grasses that help prevent erosion and filter run-off into the Mississippi. Our partner organization, Great River Greening, will provide work gloves and tools, and deploy an ecologist to explain why these efforts benefit water. The event is family friendly, and a complimentary lunch will be provided at 11:30 a.m. Join in and get a limited edition T-shirt. Register at www.watermain.org. Date: April 28, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Valley Park in Mendota Heights

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About Minnesota Public Radio 
Minnesota Public Radio® operates a 46-station radio network serving nearly all of Minnesota and parts of surrounding states. Reaching more than 1 million listeners each week, MPR and its three regional services—MPR News, Classical MPR and The Current®—produce programming for radio, digital and live audiences. Programs produced by MPR’s national programming division, American Public Media®, reach nearly 21 million listeners via more than 1,000 radio stations nationwide each week. APM is one of the largest producers and distributors of public radio programming in the world, with a portfolio that includes BBC World Service, Marketplace®, and the leading classical music programming in the nation. APM also offers a diverse array of podcasts featuring the best in food, culture, entertainment, business and investigative journalism. For more information on MPR, visit minnesotapublicradio.org. For more information on APM, visit americanpublicmedia.org.

Source: Data are copyright Nielsen Audio. Data are estimates only.