Mayor Roy Buol of Dubuque Iowa publicly signs the Mississippi River Proclamation. With Mayor Buol are Kelly McGinnis (MRN) and Staci Williams (American Rivers)
June 30, 2017
To date, 17 Mississippi River mayors have publicly passed a proclamation declaring the need for increased efforts to improve water quality and reduce flooding impacts. You can read the full proclamation here and below is the letter signed by mayors from 8 Mississippi River states. The proclamation was developed by 1 Mississippi and the Mississippi River Network, the Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative, and American Rivers. Having support from these mayors is a huge step in improving the health of the Mississippi River? Did your mayor sign the proclamation?
March 1, 2017
We the undersigned mayors of the ten Mississippi River states fully support local, state, and federal efforts to improve water quality and reduce the impacts of flooding by developing metrics and funding mechanisms for implementation of our state’s Nutrient Reduction Strategy (NRS).
The Mississippi is truly America’s River—a critical source of drinking water for 18 million people, a diverse and critical habitat for wildlife, the backbone of our economy and a rich part of our heritage. However, the river is also facing incredible challenges, like harmful algal blooms and the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico, both caused by excessive nitrogen and phosphorus contamination making their way into the Mississippi River. Many of America’s farmers are stewards of the earth. For generations they have worked hard to protect our land and water while producing food and other products at affordable prices, but more must be done. Funding for implementation of state nutrient reduction strategies, agricultural conservation, and ecosystem restoration programs would help alleviate this stress to the river and associated impacts to the local economy.
The problems facing the Mississippi are complex and will require communities, elected leaders, conservation partners, businesses, and rural landowners working together, as well as dedicated, long-term funding. Implementation of the strategies outlined in each state’s NRS will help us realize the goal of a 40 percent reduction in nitrogen making its way to the Mississippi River, and thus ensuring the vibrancy of the Mississippi River corridor for the benefit of people, wildlife and future generations.
Sincerely,
Illinois
• Alton, Mayor Brad Walker
• East St. Louis, Mayor Emeka Jackson-Hicks
Iowa
• Davenport, Mayor Frank Klipsch
• Dubuque, Mayor Roy Buol
• Guttenburg, Mayor Russell Loven
Kentucky
• Hickman, Mayor David Lattus
Louisiana
• Gretna, Mayor Belinda Constant
• St. Gabriel, Mayor Lionel Johnson, Jr.
• Tallulah, Mayor Paxton J. Branch
• Vidalia, Mayor Buz Craft,
Minnesota
• Dayton, Mayor Tim Mcneil
• St. Cloud, Mayor Dave Kleis
• St. Paul, Mayor Coleman
Mississippi
• Nachez, Mayor Darryl V. Grennell
Missouri
• Cape Girardeau, Mayor Harry Rediger
• St. Louis, Mayor Francis Slay
Wisconsin
• Lacrosse, Mayor Tim Kabat
About the Mississippi River Network and the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative
The Mississippi River Network is a coalition of 50 organizations and over 18,000 1 Mississippi “River Citizens”, including mayors and other decision-makers, dedicated to creating a healthier Mississippi River from the headwaters to the Gulf by working for the well-being of the river’s land, water and people.
The Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative is an association of mayor-led communities whose cities are adjacent to the waterway and whose collective mission is to pursue and protect an ecologically healthy River to achieve an economically sustainable River.