This special episode of The Watershed Podcast celebrates 100 years of water quality testing on the Mississippi River and the communities who have fought to bring the river back to life. You’ll hear from Tim Terrill, Darrin Hoverson, Mike, Heidi & Kadence Becker, Lori Becker, Devin Brown, and Tanáǧidaŋ Tó Wíŋ, each sharing a personal connection to the river, from the headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Twin Cities. Their stories span stewardship, family traditions, boat‑building, environmental education, healing, cultural memory, and the deep Dakota relationship with Mni Sota Makoce. Together, they paint a picture of a river that is more than water: it’s a teacher, a relative, and a thread that ties generations together. Back in 1926, a study revealed severe pollution: only three fish were found in a 42-mile stretch of river between the Twin Cities and Hastings. The findings confirmed what residents already feared: the Mississippi was dead. But that study also sparked a century of collective action to restore and protect this vital waterway. This year, a growing movement in the Twin Cities called Sacred Water Shared Future is honoring that legacy. Through community gatherings, storytelling, education, and conservation, the campaign celebrates the river’s central role in our region while acknowledging its deep history, sacredness, and resilience. The hope is simple and powerful: that 2026 inspires collaboration and shared action and helps set the stage for the next hundred years of healing for the river and all the life it supports. You can learn more about Sacred Water Shared Future at Sacred Water Shared Future, where you’ll also find a full calendar of water‑focused events happening throughout the Twin Cities. The campaign is hosting opportunities for people to connect with the river in meaningful ways, from rafting trips and bike tours to seminars, workshops, concerts, logrolling, crating, and more. Each event offers a chance to celebrate the river, learn from it, and spend time with others who care about its future. You can learn more about We Are Water MN at We Are Water MN - Minnesota Humanities Center Special thank you to Mumble Media, who conducted all the interviews with these community members. Thank you to our interviewees for this episode. We Are Water MN is a project of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Minnesota Humanities Center, in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society; the Board of Water and Soil Resources; the Minnesota Departments of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources; and University of Minnesota Extension. We Are Water Minnesota is funded by the Clean Water Fund, part of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which was created by the vote of the people in Minnesota on November 4th, 2008. You can find We Are Water MN on Instagram and Facebook, where you can follow along for the latest updates! Music Credits: Little Water Dreams by Tom_Hoffmeyer from Pixabay.
