May 2016 (Part II) Newsletter: Celebrate, River Citizens! It’s American Wetlands Month!

May 19, 2016

Dear River Citizens:

It’s that time of year again! May marks the annual observance of American Wetlands Month. In celebration of the many wetlands of the Mississippi River, 1 Mississippi has created this special edition newsletter to highlight some of the most important benefits wetlands provide to both humans and the environment, and simple actions River Citizens can take to help threatened wetlands.

First, the not-so-good news: We are now in the 26th year of American Wetlands Month and many wetlands still need our help. American Wetlands Month was created in 1991 by the EPA and its non-profit, governmental and private sector partners to raise awareness about the value of wetlands. While we’ve made progress in protecting wetlands over the years, there are still many wetlands across the United States, particularly in the Mississippi River region, that are in need of protection. For example, the Saint John’s Bayou New Madrid project threatens the last remaining area where the Mississippi River connects to its backwater floodplain in Missouri. A massive new levee and enormous pumping plants would destroy an area of wetlands larger than the District of Columbia, eliminate the most important backwater fisheries habitat in the Middle Mississippi River and threaten the safety of river communities.

The Mississippi River Delta also is in trouble. The Delta is “a vast mosaic of marshes and forested wetlands, estuaries, navigable waterways and islands that makes up most of southern Louisiana”[1]. It’s losing about “24 square miles of wetlands each year—roughly equivalent to a football field every 30 minutes!”[2] This is devastating given that nearly half the population of Louisiana lives near the coast and the livelihoods of many citizens depend on a healthy Delta. The wetlands of the Delta also provide habitats for endangered wildlife, wetland plants, fish and shellfish and migratory birds.

 

 

What Actions Can River Citizens Take to Help Mississippi River Wetlands?

We know that wetlands are extremely important, but we also know that many wetlands are in trouble. So, what can River Citizens do to help? While the task to protect our wetlands might seem overwhelming, there are many simple actions we can take to protect them.

1. Spread the word about the importance of wetlands to your friends and family.
2. Speak up at public forums and describe the essential role wetlands play in ecosystems and our communities.
3. Ask the EPA to celebrate American Wetlands Month by vetoing the New Madrid Levee project. Simply go to our Twitter page and RETWEET any of our St. John’s Bayou New Madrid TWEETS. Be sure to add @GinaMcCarthy so that your tweet will be sent to the Administrator of the EPA.
4. Spread the word about 1 Mississippi. Forward our newsletters, join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter and encourage others to participate in the movement by signing up at 1mississippi.org

Thank you, River Citizens, for all that you do for the Mississippi River. We hope you’re inspired to celebrate the last two weeks of American Wetlands Month and continue to celebrate throughout the rest of the year.

Sincerely,

Brooke Thurau

1 Mississippi Campaign Coordinator

[1] Restore the Mississippi River Delta. 2016. http://www.mississippiriverdelta.org/discover-the-delta/

[2] National Wildlife Federation. 2016. Mississippi River Delta. https://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wild-Places/Mississippi-River-Delta.aspx

Why are you a River Citizen?

“For me, River Citizenship [has] always been an outlet to give back to the water that has permitted me to exist on this planet and also to ensure the preservation of a pristine ecosystem in which children of the next generation can enjoy to the same degree that I have.”

~Tanner Aljets
Alton, Illinois