Things You Can Do
Today, the once mighty Mississippi River is in trouble. Pollution from farms, untreated sewage and factories along with weak enforcement of water laws has caused our once Great River to decline.
But we can help. By standing up for the River and making simple lifestyle changes we can reclaim the Mississippi for future generations. Here are 7 actions that we hope all River Citizens will take. If you’ve already made some of these changes, then stand up and be counted. When you Become a River Citizen and join the ranks of people pledging to take these actions, tell us which actions you pledge to take.
Become A River Citizen
Anyone can be a River Citizen. Sign up today to join the growing network of 10,000 committed citizens from around the country. River Citizens are people who want to clean up and protect America’s greatest River. River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a big difference.
Volunteer on the River
Join a local River clean-up, tree planting or restoration workday. For volunteer opportunities in your area, visit our calendar.
Get to Know the River
Explore America’s greatest River. Sign up for a canoe trip, visit a nature center or attend a Riverside festival. The more we learn about the River, the more we love it. And we protect what we love.
Reduce Fertilizer and Pesticide Use
Seventy percent of American households garden or care for lawns every year, which often includes fertilizers and bug and weed killers. When it rains, these chemicals run off lawns into local storm drains, polluting our rivers. To reduce water pollution, only fertilize when necessary and use phosphorus-free fertilizers. In 2009, residents in Ann Arbor, Michigan, were required to use phosphorous-free fertilizer. Within two years, the level of phosphorus in their streams and rivers dropped 28%.
Support Sustainable Agriculture
Working farms that use sustainable agriculture practices create less fertilizer and pesticide pollution in our rivers and streams. Excess fertilizers in the Mississippi River have caused a Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico that recently equaled the size of the state of Delaware. Use your grocery dollars to encourage sustainable agriculture by buying food at farmers markets and roadside stands, joining Community Supported Agriculture and finding local meat sources.
Protect Your Local Wetlands
Wetlands filter pollutants, absorb excess rainwater and reduce flooding by acting as a giant sponge. Scientists estimate that returning idle agricultural lands in the Upper Mississippi basin to their original wetland form would significantly reduce flooding enough to offset much of the flooding that occurred in 1993, which caused an estimated $16 billion in damages. Speak up! Make sure that wetlands in your community are protected from development.
Vote
Elected officials make important decisions that affect our River. Learn their voting records and encourage them to support River access, protection and restoration. Vote for candidates who make our River their priority.
2011 1Mississippi.net