Blog

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.

New Orleans, LA – Nearly 40 organizations representing all ten states that the Mississippi River flows through are gathering in New Orleans, LA this week as part of the Mississippi River Network’s (MRN) Annual Meeting. This is the first in-person...

When I was a young boy growing up, I was fortunate to experience both sides of the Mississippi River. Born in East St. Louis and later moving to North St. Louis County, I grew up fishing the banks of both sides of the River. We used to time the...

Spanning 6,334 square miles in 2021, an area larger than the state of Connecticut, is the Gulf of Mexico “dead zone.” This region of hypoxia – or oxygen-depleted water – is the 2nd-largest in the world, resulting in fatal consequences for marine life.

BY: Maisah Khan, Policy Director, Mississippi River Network & Alicia Vasto, Water Program Associate Director, Iowa Environmental CouncilIt’s that time of year again! Mississippi River Network (MRN) member organizations sprang into action for...

Do you find yourself dreaming of the garden on the coldest days of winter? I do. Planning and scheming for this year’s growing season is one of my favorite winter activities. As a Master Gardener, I am always searching for new, exciting plants to...

A record number of Mississippi River Network (MRN) members and River Citizens (like you!) attended the December 2021 virtual public meeting of the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force. What is the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force, and why was the recent public meeting...

It was a little before 9am on Valentine’s Day that I passed Lock & Dam Number 19 at Keokuk, and just a bit later that I rowed past the confluence of the Des Moines River with the Mississippi, signaling that I had left Iowa waters and moved into Missouri. The air temperature outside was -8 degrees F. I was wearing shorts and a tank top.

On Thursday, September 9 I traveled to Jefferson City, MO to present at the Conservation Federation of Missouri’s annual Affiliate Summit. I talked about the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (or MRRRI), and the impact this new Initiative could have on conservation and restoration work here in my home state of Missouri. The Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) is a state lead organization for MRRRI, meaning that they are one of ten state-based organizations actively informing the vision for MRRRI and engaging the relevant partners in the state. Check out their webpage about MRRRI here: http://confedmo.org/mrrri

Written by Maisah KhanOn August 30th, 2021, an order from the U.S. District Court in Arizona brought an end to the “Navigable Waters Protection Rule” (NWPR). This Rule removed Clean Water Act protections from a large number of wetlands and streams...

By Mark River PeoplesMississippi River islands are some of the last untouched wilderness in our country. They form by a combination of the River's natural meanders, floodwaters, and manufactured infrastructure.  During low water, the islands are...

IEC is, at its core, a coalition organization. Connecting diverse people and organizations is essential to our mission. Because the health of the environment affects everyone, we work to build awareness and identify shared values the importance of the environment to folks’ daily lives.

Calling for a new federal Mississippi River initiativeFrom headwaters to the gulf, groups say it’s time to restore the river and support resilient river communities Contacts:• MRRRI Collaborative communications support: sue rich, Friends of the...

Through the Mississippi River Network’s 1 Mississippi program we celebrate the gifts of the Mississippi River 365 days a year. We know that as River Citizens, you also take actions large and small every day to show how much you care about our...

Last month, Mississippi River Network (MRN) Members participated in nearly 30 meetings with Congressional decision-makers and their staff as part of our Spring 2021 virtual “fly-in.” We shared our policy priorities as they relate to flooding,...