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Checkup for the Father of Waters

• by: Raymond Grumney
• Updated: September 27, 2012 - 4:51 PM

The Mississippi between the Coon Rapids and Hastings dams is a much healthier river than it was three decades ago - with growing populations of fish, mussels and eagles and long stretches clean enough for swimming. At the same time, it faces some new threats, including chemical byproducts of household cleansers and pharmaceuticals. The first-ever assessment was conducted by the National Park Service and Friends of the Mississippi River