Joanne Richardson

Carrying rushes from the river. Image courtesy of the author.

FeatureMarch 4, 2020

Flood Narratives of the Lower Subarnarekha River Corridor, India

The Indian scenario of an alluvial river is that of miseries and mishap during the monsoon season when the river breaches its banks…

Figure 4. Slab-on-grade house that flooded, Flood water is shown surrounding the house and coming all the way up to the structure. Ascension Parish. August 2016. Image courtesy of the author.

Feature (Peer Review)March 4, 2020

Eroding Memories and Erecting Risk on the Amite River

Baton Rouge, Louisiana owes its existence to the Mississippi River. The city is perched atop a terrace at the first upriver site that is immune from annual inundation…

Geography Lower Mississippi River Planning / Policy Policy

The urban Mississippi River flowing by downtown Saint Paul. Image courtesy of Nattapol Pornsalnuwat.

PerspectivesMarch 4, 2020

The Urban Mississippi: Valuing Connections in a Changing Climate

By Emily Green, Bree Duever, and Amit Pradhananga Social scientists have long noted the value in humans connecting with their communities—through both social bonds…

Minnesota Policy Public Programs

The Colorado River is visible in the distance through a light haze under blue sky, at the base of the Grand Canyon's walls in its inner gorge. Foreground shows the high desert terrace.

In ReviewMarch 4, 2020

Time in the Canyon

By David Morrison A bit over half a century ago, Colin Fletcher walked, in two months, from one end of Grand Canyon National Park…

Engagement Geosciences United States

The quieter side of the bridge over the Red Lake River in downtown Crookston, Minnesota. Image courtesy of Caryn Mohr.

Teaching and PracticeNovember 21, 2019

Water has long played an important role in my life. In fact, it played a role in my very beginning. Like all of you, I first lived in a water environment, then was born into this world. A few weeks later, I was baptized with water. This sacrament joins me with many others that share my faith traditions, and water is sacred in many traditions.

Engagement Minnesota Public Programs

A sunset on Mille Lacs Lake as seen from Father Hennepin State Park near Isle, Minnesota. Image courtesy of Tom Webster (CC-BY-2.0).

GeographiesNovember 21, 2019

Misi-zaaga’iganing (Mille Lacs Lake)

Mille Lacs Lake is the second largest lake in Minnesota and archaeological evidence suggests that it was one of the first areas that humans settled in the region. Many different groups of people have called the area around the lake home. A number of Native American tribes have lived around the lake throughout time.

Engagement Environmental History Indigenous Perspectives Minnesota

A group of people are on a large boat with a flat gathering area. They are all listening to an instructor.

FeatureNovember 21, 2019

We Are Water MN: Relationship-Based Water Engagement

A project of the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), in collaboration with the Minnesota Departments of Health, Natural Resources, and Agriculture as well as the Minnesota Historical Society, We Are Water MN strives to bridge the disconnect between scientific knowledges about water and human practices and engagements with water.

Engagement Minnesota Public Programs

We Are Water MN exhibits are shown here in the Institute on the Environment space at the University of Minnesota.

FeatureNovember 21, 2019

We Are Water UMN

An unassuming email with the subject line “possible to talk about hosting a water-community exhibit in LES?” came through my inbox midday on February 27, 2018. Little did I know this email would change the way I looked at my work at the Institute on the Environment (IonE) and spark my drive for collaborations within and outside the University community in respect to absent narratives.

Engagement Geosciences Minnesota Public Programs

We Are Water MN on exhibit in the lobby of Great Lakes Aquarium, Duluth, March 10–April 22, 2019.

FeatureNovember 21, 2019

We Are Water: Stories and Connections to Nibi

“What’s my relationship to water, as a woman?” Fond du Lac’s Nikki Crowe repeated the question posed to her. “Women take care of the water. Everyone in this room came from a woman, and started in the womb being carried in water, so for women, it is important for us to take care of the water.”

Engagement Environmental Justice Indigenous Perspectives United States

Whitewater State Park naturalists Jeremy Darst and Sara Holger pose on Seibenaler Ridge overlooking the Whitewater River in the Whitewater Wildlife Management Area. The naturalists are the story keepers for the Whitewater valley. They share the valley history so that others might learn from the past and make better choices for the future.

GeographiesNovember 21, 2019

Whitewater State Park: 100 Years in Paradise

This year, 2019, marks the Centennial Anniversary of Whitewater State Park located in Winona County in the southeast Minnesota blufflands region. The story of how this place evolved into the popular tourist destination it is today is both fascinating and frightening and the park naturalists are working to make sure that story is not forgotten.

Engagement Environmental History Minnesota