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Impacts of climate change on the Mississippi

Guest Blog By Dea Larsen Converse

Communications Director, Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts

From tourism to agriculture to biodiversity, the stretch of the Mississippi River that borders western Wisconsin is a critical resource — and one that is at an increasing risk due to climate change. A recent report from the Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts (WICCI) shows the Mississippi River communities and habitats in Wisconsin are at risk due to the increasing variability in river flows caused by changes in precipitation, snow melt, storm intensity, and land use. The last two decades have been the warmest on record in Wisconsin and the past decade has been the wettest. Extended high water and fall flooding have occurred on the Mississippi River in seven of the last 10 years.  

Posted on Unsplash.com by @UniqTrek

“Climate change adaptation projects in backwater areas of the Mississippi are vital to maintaining productive local fisheries and access to quality fishing opportunities.” – Shawn Giblin, WICCI Mississippi River sub-group co-chair 

The WICCI Water Resources Working Group recommends actions to make the Mississippi River basin more climate resilient, including restoring natural areas, investing in flood risk reduction practices and pre-disaster mitigation programs, and developing a two-dimensional hydraulic model to help with Mississippi River habitat projects, community flood risk evaluation, and management. There is hope for the future — but it’s up to us. 

Read more here. 

Posted on Unsplash.com by @_g_r_e_y

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Guest Blog By Dea Larsen Converse

Communications Director, Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts

Can the River Count on You?

Become a River Citizen!      

Step 1

Become a River Citizen

Yes! The River can count on me!

I am committed to protecting the Mississippi River and will take at least three actions to care for this valuable resource. Please keep me informed about actions I can take to protect the Mississippi River as a River Citizen:

 

Step 2

Educate Yourself

One goal for 1 Mississippi is to educate the public on the urgent problems facing the River. We are supported by the Mississippi River Network, a group of organizations that are experts in various areas concerning the River. Each section below is intended to provide some basic knowledge about these important issues and links to experts who can provide more detailed information. 

Nutrient pollution

Importance of floodplains and wetlands

Farm bill conservation programs

 

Step 3

Take Action

There are many ways you can take action. We have a list of 10 actions you can take now, You can volunteer and you can check our action center in order to see what bigger projects we are working on. Here we give you the information you need to call your congressman or sign onto proposals. You can also check out our events calendar to see what events are happening in your area.

10 actions you can take now!

The Action Center

Events Calendar

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