The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI)
Did you know that the Mississippi River lacks a dedicated, holistic federal restoration program?
The Mississippi River Network is pleased to support the creation of a Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI).
MRRRI would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to work closely with other federal agencies, states, tribal nations, and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations to develop and coordinate the Initiative, with these goals:
- Protect our drinking water by reducing runoff pollution
- Reduce flood and storm risks and increase community resilience through ecologically sound management
- Protect and restore wildlife habitat, in part by preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species
MRRRI would be non-regulatory. It would provide funds for restoration projects in river states, cities, townships, and tribal nations while prioritizing the most at-risk communities.
Learn more about the MRRRI Act:
- (Factsheets) Why we need MRRRI for:
– Clean water
– Wildlife habitat
– Our economy
– Reducing aquatic invasive species
– Delta health & natural infrastructure
- Read the bill and learn more from original author Rep. Betty McCollum’s MRRRI page
Representative Betty McCollum (MN-04)
Senator Tammy Baldwin (WI-02)
Thank you House and Senate authors Rep. Betty McCollum and Sen. Tammy Baldwin!
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October 2024 River Citizen Newsletter
What do we do in the face of a changing climate? From hurricanes, migratory birds, and forests in flux to caring for our communities, learn more in your October River Citizen newsletter!
Action Alerts
The Mississippi River Network engages our members and the general public to take policy and advocacy actions that advance our overall goals for the people, land, water, and wildlife of the Mississippi River.
Go to the 1 Mississippi Action Center to take a current action and to view past actions.
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When the waters return by Mark “River” Peoples
We launch our Voyager canoes on a beautiful Thursday afternoon with one of the tallest buildings in Mississippi in our rearview mirror. The River is up and moving fast as small and large pieces of wood-laden debris ride the waves of water while some twist in the eddy. The canoe feels wonderfully balanced, reacting instantly to the adjustable strokes of my guide paddle. Like a horse that’s rested and well fed, I’m efficient and powerful, moving swiftly on a rising, but soon to crest, incredible body of water. Two large towboats hug the inside of the bend, trying to catch the slow, compromised water that’s manipulated by a complex configuration of rock structures 15 feet below the surface. I let them know by radio where we were and that we would stay in the fast water out of the way. After 30 minutes, civilization disappears as we meander around the bend. We see in the distance some of the rarest, wildest archipelago of islands on the Lower Mississippi River.
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