One of Great River Greening’s newest project sites—Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge—is a 14,000 acre corridor that runs along the Minnesota River in the Twin Cities. As one of the largest urban refuges in the United States, the Refuge offers critical habitat for migrating waterfowl, and is home to native wildlife such as redheaded woodpeckers, bald eagles, coyotes, river otters, and herons. Thousands of families visit the Refuge each year, sharing 30 miles of hiking trails and recreation space.Despite its ecological significance, areas of Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge have been neglected for decades. Invasive plants, including buckthorn, are out-competing native vegetation and compromising acres of valuable wildlife habitat. Without some type of intervention, the Refuge risks major habitat fragmentation.With the help of dedicated volunteers, Great River Greening is restoring 15 acres of the Refuge in Bloomington near the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge Trailhead. Despite nearly freezing temps, 160 volunteers joined us in October 2016 to clear buckthorn from 2.5 acres and plant 800 native shrubs.Their hard work paid off; volunteers created beautiful viewsheds of Long Meadow Lake perfect for birdwatching, hiking, and biking.