Mission:
"To advocate sustainable use of the Red River of the North, primarily within the Fargo-Moorhead area."
Organizational Background:
River Keepers grew from a desire to rediscover the Red River's heritage, and to teach people to again appreciate the Red as a living River. In earlier decades of Fargo-Moorhead history, people used and appreciated the Red River for a variety of activities. In later years, people lost that appreciation for the river which is the dominant geographical feature in the community, and began to consider it a liability to be avoided.
In 1989, believing that it was time to promote a "new attitude about the River," and explore ways to develop the River as a recreational site, a team of architects called the Red River Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team (R/UDAT), produced an intensive review and analysis of the resources along the Red River that flows through the cities of Fargo, North Dakota and Moorhead, Minnesota.
R/UDAT proposed the creation of an organization to act in the position of River Keeper. They also proposed plans to educate people about maintaining the ecological health of the river, ideas for expanding the river's recreational use, and plans to build a "rediscovered" riverfront area in the downtown Fargo-Moorhead area. These visions could be accomplished through the actions of a River Keepers organization, the Fargo and Moorhead governmental offices, and by educating the public to be stewards of the river.
River Keepers Activities:
- Advocates awareness, appreciation and stewardship of the Red River.
- Advocates riverfront development projects.
- Encourages and promotes River usage.
- Helps develop economic opportunities in the River corridor.
- Encourages development of recreation amenities in the River corridor.
- Educates residents on the River environment.
- Addresses safety concerns regarding the River corridor.
- Assists in providing cultural opportunities at the River's edge.
- Manages riverfront restoration projects
- Operates a tour boat service
- History of River Keepers Fact sheet
- River Keepers Summary
- January 2006 North Dakota Water Article
Sustaining Sponsors:
Board Members:
- Gene Boyle - President, Moorhead Public School District
- Pamela Schaefer - Vice President, Strategy Sync Ltd.
- Rocky Swanson - Secretary/Treasurer, Feibeiger, Swanson, West and Company
- Allan Ashworth - Past President, North Dakota State University
- Karl Bakkum, Melberg Christian Book & Gift Inc.
- John Dalen, Sterling Realty
- Mary Davies
- Dennis Flom, United States Postal Service
- Tom Moberg, North Dakota State University
- Dan Pullen, North Dakota Educational Technology Council
- Rick St. Germain, Houston Engineering, Inc.
- Cindy Swenson
- Jan Ulferts-Stewart
- Jennifer Walz, Moorhead Public Service
- Brad Wimmer, Wimmer's Diamonds
Staff Members:
Christine Holland Project Coordinator |
Bob Backman Executive Director |
- River Keepers also employs several seasonal part time crew for the operation of the S.S. Ruby.
