Covering much of southwestern Minnesota is a 16-county region that constitutes the upper Minnesota River watershed, where the Minnesota River starts out on its 335-mile journey across the state to the Twin Cities to then flow into the Mississippi. This area is also the focus of Clean Up the River Environment (CURE) in its 14-year quest to engage a strikingly diverse group of stakeholders to work for a cleaner Minnesota River.
CURE is at the forefront of a regional environmental movement founded on the principle that a healthy river leads to a healthy economy. Its tireless efforts to help farmers qualify for pollution-reducing conservation programs, retain the river’s wild and scenic designation, and draw talented artists to river communities strengthen the fabric of the region and the river.