As our country celebrates Earth Day next week, we celebrate the people who make Earth Day every day. The Mississippi River Network members’ staff dedicate their time to create a cleaner Mississippi River for all of us.
The Network is strong because its members include an extraordinarily diverse group of experts: land conservation specialists, teachers, biologists, ecologists, ornithologists, ichthyologists, writers, canoe guides and even airplane pilots. There are people dedicated to cleaning up pollution you can see, like trash, and people who reduce pollution you might not see, like excess fertilizer. There are scientists who provide us with relevant data and policy wonks who follow the pulse of Washington, DC, so we can make real improvements in our nation’s policies. Network members are truly an All American Team, from cities large and small throughout the United States.
Several of the Network’s policy experts met in Washington, DC, a couple weeks ago to give the River a voice against special interests, advocate for a balanced approach to River management and provide decision makers with on-the-ground success stories of good policies in action. They also met with River mayors from the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative to find areas where our collective action would be most effective.
So, this Earth Day, let’s follow the example of the dedicated experts who comprise the Mississippi River Network. Let’s take actions, like the one listed below, to help protect and restore America’s greatest River.
Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area. Photo by Timothy Boyle
Designate the Mississippi River as a
Critical Conservation Area
As River Citizens, we recognize that all efforts to help the River are important, but every so often there is a special opportunity for River Citizens to get very tangible results. Right now, we can help designate the Mississippi River as a Critical Conservation Area. This national designation will help decision-makers leverage existing programs that bring money into River communities, improve water quality, protect people from flooding and enhance wildlife habitat, all while sustaining agricultural profitability in the Mississippi River Basin.
This is incredibly important as the Middle Mississippi River has been designated
as the 3rd most endangered river in the United States.
Several Network members and the mayors of the Mississippi River spoke up, now let’s unleash the power of River Citizens! Add your voice to this national discussion here by sending the Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a letter. We make it easy, you make it happen.
As always, thank you for your time and attention to the needs of our Big River,
Annette Anderson
1 Mississippi Outreach Coordinator
Trivia Question:
Healthy floodplains deliver $____ annually in economic benefits like flood risk reduction and pollution filtration.
a. $100 per acre
b. $1,100 per acre
c. $5,500 per acre
d. $8,080 per acre
Find the answer in this month’s guest blog, “Economic Impacts of Habitat Restoration.”