Blog
From Mississippi River inspired reflections to in-depth analysis of River-related policy, the 1 Mississippi blog roll is a must-read. Primarily authored by 1 Mississippi staff, we also offer this space for guest blogs. Please contact info@1mississippi.org with submissions and questions!
Note: Our website will be under construction in the Fall of 2024. If you find links that are not working, please contact us and we’ll be happy to send more information.
Electrified Fish Fences and Oil Slicks: One Woman’s Paddling Adventure
Beginning mid-August, Margo Pellegrino will paddle her outrigger canoe from Chicago to New Orleans with the hopes of raising awareness about water quality issues. The journey will take her through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal (a human-made...
Plastic dumps, a goldmine? How to reuse and replace plastic.
Every year the U.S. throws away roughly 29 billion plastic bottles. These bottles take about 17 million barrels of crude oil to manufacture. That is the equivalent of keeping 1 million cars on the road for 12 months1! According to State of the...
Dead Zone “Fun”?
It’s the season to measure the size of the “Dead Zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. Each summer, scientists examine coastal waters off Louisiana to see how large of an area is without sea life because oxygen levels in the ocean are too low. Agricultural...
The Plastic Bag Dilemma
We’ve all had it happen to us; with the mindset of ‘get it done’ and the wheel of activities for the day turning in your head – you forgot to say to the clerk, “No bags please”. Before you know it, the 10 items you purchase have been packed away in...
Ready, Set, PADDLE!
On Saturday June 18th, the 35th annual Outdoors, Inc. Kayak and Canoe race, a spectacular event, took place in Memphis! Over 200 Kayaks, Canoes, and Paddleboards came to compete against each other in a 5,000 meter (3.1 miles) race on the...
Teach Me About Water–Goodbye from Minnesota
At 1 Mississippi we love River Citizens and learning about the many ways you engage with the Mississippi River. Whether you are paddling down the river, pulling invasive plants, writing letters to your local representatives, or reading the labels...
June 2016 Newsletter: “We Speak for the Trees!”
May 31, 2016 Dear River Citizens, Thanks to your hard work and dedication, many of our Mississippi River communities, from the headwaters to the gulf, are seeing significant improvements to our River and towns. Whether organizing River clean-ups,...
“Many Hands Make Light Work” – Group Accomplishments Along the River
****! I slept in, missing my 7:30 alarm and waking up at 8:05 A.M. I had planned to make it to a Missouri River Relief trash clean-up that was an hour away at 9 A.M. At first, I rolled over and considered falling back to sleep for another hour...
Turtle Racing
National turtle week took place recently. My natural affinity for “slow and steady wins the race” makes me a big fan of turtles (and tortoises). I’m less of fan of rabbits (and hares), and I guess that’s a result of being a gardener. While...
From a Different Perspective…
Guest Blog submitted by Judi Blalock of the Mississippi River Corridor-Tennessee I am what’s known as a transplant – not native to Memphis and the South! – and even more noticeably, as a “former Yankee”!! However, I am more than willing to admit...
My Mississippi
The mighty Mississippi is MY River. It is YOUR River, as well. Have you ever spent a day watching the mighty Mississippi roll along its path from Minnesota to Louisiana? It is quite a sight. The sheer strength of the Mississippi is something to...
Common Ground About Water
Enjoying life along the Mississippi River is as much about land as it is about water. Creating a healthier Mississippi River depends as much on finding common ground as it does about working with the flow of events. Over two-thirds of people living...
The Natural State of Floods
In the my last blog post about flooding we talked about how floods impact our communities and can cause lots of harm and destruction. In this post we’re going to explore what floods really are. I know what you might be thinking-- didn’t we already...
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...
One With the River
It was a great Wednesday. The "Dragonfly " canoe is a couple steps away from its first layer of fiberglass. Driftwood and I closely comb over its curvature looking for places that need attention before the next phase. We smile at each other to...
Neighborhood Clean-Up!
One simple bright emblem led me to an awesome group of people who care about the River and how it affects them and their community. I live in a lovely neighborhood in the great river city of Memphis, TN -- about 3 miles away from the river. Going...
West Tennessee…..Past, Present, and Future!!
Guest Blog submitted by Judi Blalock of the Mississippi River Corridor-Tennessee Exciting adventures abound for the Mississippi River Corridor-Tennessee (MRCT), one of the 52 members of the Mississippi River Network working towards a healthy...
One Door Closes, Another Opens: Dealing with Setbacks Positively
I was late; it was unavoidable at this point. Making a pit stop to buy my weekly supply of kombucha had done me in. Kombucha is a fermented drink that most people use for its health benefits, which include joint relief, energy, digestive benefits,...
River Management and Flooding Woes
Guest Blog by Christine Favilla, Sierra Club Originally posted in the Nicollet Island Coalition Blog Recent floods highlight the need for big changes in the management of the Mississippi River, changes leading to a more sustainable system with...
May 2016 Newsletter: Creating Memories on the Mighty Mississippi!
“Moments like this are luminous pearls that shine forever in the heart of every traveler…” ~Gayle Harper Author of "Roadtrip with a Raindrop: 90 Days Along the Mississippi River" Creating Memories on the Mighty Mississippi! May 12, 2016 Dear River...
Step 1
Become a River Citizen
Yes! The River can count on me!
I am committed to protecting the Mississippi River. Please keep me informed about actions I can take to protect the Mississippi River as a River Citizen, and send me my free e-book!, Scenes From Our Mighty Mississippi!
Step 2
LEARN ABOUT THE RIVER
We protect what we know and love. As a River Citizen, you’ll receive our email newsletter and updates, which offer countless ways to engage with and learn more about the River. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, X (Twitter) , and YouTube, where we share about urgent issues facing the River, such as nutrient pollution, the importance of floodplains and wetlands, and bedrock legislation such as Farm Bill Conservation Programs.
Step 3
Take Action
There are many ways you can jump in and take action for a healthy Mississippi River. Our 10 actions list includes simple steps you can take at any time and wherever you are. Check out our action center for current action alerts, bigger projects we are working on, and ways to get involved.