In 1976, Minnesota residents fought plans for landfills and development along their river valley; 50 years later, the refuge they helped create protects more than 15,000 acres

• Conservation challenges remain part of the conversation and the anniversary panel will examine issues facing the Minnesota River Valley, including water quality, flooding and development along the river's bluffs.
• Half a century ago, a stretch of Minnesota river country faced a very different future.
• Plans for landfills and development threatened the Minnesota River bottoms, prompting local residents to push back against a transformation they believed would erase one of the region's most valuable natural landscapes.