“The Mississippi River supports jobs, provides food and water and gives our culture and traditions a sense of permanence. Yet, so many times, it is taken for granted but we, as mayors, certainly do not.”
– Roy Buol, Mayor of Dubuque and River Citizen
Like many of today’s environmental issues, the problems facing the Mississippi River can be out of sight, out of mind. However, there’s a growing movement amongst representatives in River cities to make us confront these problems before it’s too late.
Mayors of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) recently met on Capitol Hill to discuss the long-term health of the River. Similar to 1 Mississippi, these mayors are working hard to make the Mississippi River a national priority. Draining 40% of the country and bordering 10 states, the River is a major part of our country’s transportation system, is embedded in our national history and current culture.
The Mississippi River’s tributaries spread over 31 states, capturing 40% of the water that falls on the U.S.
With increasing severe weather throughout the Mississippi River Basin, it is more important than ever to prepare our communities before disaster strikes. In order to address shared problems of flooding and drought, the MRCTI is spearheading multi-stakeholder solutions. River mayors are working with the Mississippi River Network (MRN), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
With the massive scope of problems facing the River and the many different organizations involved in the River’s management, the need for a comprehensive plan is obvious. The General Mississippi Management Plan the mayors advocate for will evaluate the health and requirements of River habitats, share best practices for agricultural and navigation needs as well as identify high impact cost-effective solutions to make River communities more resilient to extreme weather.
One responsible solution that addresses all three of these overarching goals is to protect the natural areas and wetlands along the River. Wetlands offer habitat for a variety of species and act as a sponge for flood waters, buffering River communities from the effects of severe weather. Supporting healthy ecosystems improves community resiliency and, with the right planning, helps communities continue to grow and thrive even in times of drought and flood.
The Mississippi River is our nation’s oldest infrastructure, and for the first time mayors in the River’s main-stem states are working together with other agencies and NGOs to come up with multi-stakeholder solutions. For the 2015 budget, Congress has supported $400 million in disaster prevention. This is truly a reflection of the growing concern for extreme weather we have already seen and could see in the future. Developing and adopting the mayors’ proactive approach will help us and future generations to continue utilizing the River for agriculture, recreation, transportation, ecosystem services and clean drinking water.
Mississippi Riverfront in Dubuque
Mayor Buol of Dubuque became a River Citizen and has been working tirelessly on behalf of the River because, “As a resident of Dubuque who was born and raised in this great city, I have realized the importance of the River to our economy, recreational offerings and our future environmentally. I believe it is a tremendous national asset that is in need of a voice at the national level to begin to address, holistically, the many issues along its entire length. That is our mission at MRCTI and I am very pleased with our progress to date.”
Thank you to the many mayors for fighting for our River, and welcome to our newest mayoral River Citizen, Mayor Bill Gluba of Davenport, Iowa!
We are indeed 1 Mississippi!
Jessica Zimmerman
1 Mississippi Outreach Assistant