Environment and River Gorge Committee
Goals & Purpose
The Environment-River Gorge Committee (ERG) works to create environmentally focused programs, projects and events that help advance the greening of Greater Longfellow, as well as promote and protect the River Gorge.
Join us at an upcoming meeting!
ERG meets the first Wednesday of the month at 7pm; All meetings are open to the public, and residents of Greater Longfellow are invited to participate in voting.
Check the calendar for details on whether the meeting is in person or on Zoom.
Zoom Meeting Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88413781107
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If you have questions about our committees, please contact LCC at:
August 2026 NRP Plan Modification Proposal
As approved by the ERG Committee at the July 1 meeting (see minutes here), and discussed by the full LCC Board at their meeting on July 21, the LCC Board will vote on whether to approve an NRP plan modification at their August 18 meeting.
The plan modification would reallocate $10,500 within contract #25000 from two unused funding strategies to two that have been active in recent years. The funding categories are as follows:
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- Environment and Transportation (25000)
- 13.A.1 (Promote Green Sustainable Infrastructure on Lake) -$3,500
- 13.C.1 (River Lake Greenway) -$7,000
- 12.C.1 (Land and Water Stewardship Projects) +$5,000
- 15.C.1 (Share the Gorge) +$5,500
- Environment and Transportation (25000)
This plan modification requires a 21 day notice to those impacted by the changes (i.e. the Environment & River Gorge Committee) and a vote by the full LCC board. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this plan modification, please contact LCC’s executive director, Joel McReynolds, at
Examples of our Projects & Programs
Annual Share the Gorge Event
This popular summer gathering invites Longfellow residents to explore the gorge in a fun, family-friendly style. Step off the bank and into a canoe for a short trip on the river, enjoy ice cream, and learn more about the work of LCC’s River Gorge Committee.
Spring Birding Hike
This event links residents with local birding experts to look for migrating and returning spring birds along the Mississippi River Gorge. Groups often find over 50 species during the annual spring hike in the Mississippi Flyway where experts have observed more than 170 species. The event is typically hosted in May; stay tuned for details!
Community Raingarden Program
In 2015, LCC sponsored a community rain garden program to install rain gardens on residential and commercial properties with the help of grant funding from the City of Minneapolis. Rain gardens are shown to decrease surface runoff, lessen pollutant levels in the watershed, and help to recharge underground aquifers. The 2015 program resulted in 30 residential and a handful of commercial rain gardens being constructed across Greater Longfellow with the help of volunteers. Project partners included Metro Blooms, Project for Pride in Living, the Longfellow Business Association, and the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.
2017 Ash Loss Mitigation Project
In an effort to limit the impact of the loss of trees in the neighborhood due to the Emerald Ash Borer epidemic, LCC offered funding assistance to homeowners to treat trees against infection through a small grant program. The 2017 program has closed; to request information on your options as a homeowner, contact our office.