| Dear friend, How are the rivers, streams, and lakes by you? Are they clear(ish) and clean - making swimming, fishing, and being beside them a delight? Or are they cloudy, smelly, and full of algae? It's that time of year when higher water temperatures combined with increased stormwater runoff can lead to harmful algal blooms, impacting us locally and downstream. Because our cherished Mississippi River collects water from so many tributaries and lands covering 1.2 million square miles, including all or part of 32 states, it also collects and ferries human-made pollution downstream to the Gulf of Mexico. Excess pollutants in the form of nitrogen and phosphorus wash off from farm fields and our cities, fueling the Gulf of Mexico's 'dead zone,' a hypoxic or low to no oxygen area that can kill fish and other marine life. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) has forecasted an above-average summer dead zone at approximately 5,827 square miles - an area roughly the size of Connecticut, or over 12 million Olympic-sized swimming pools! |
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| Many states, agencies, tribal nations, organizations, communities, and people must work together as 1 Mississippi to restore the River and protect it for future generations. For our River Citizens, taking steps like our 10 Actions is more crucial than ever. Read in your August newsletter below, friend, for ways to connect with our beloved River and make a difference! -Michael Anderson, Director of Outreach and Education, Mississippi River Network |
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| | 'Farm To Trouble' - A Special Reporting Series As you read in the intro of this newsletter, runoff from fertilized farm fields and municipal runoff is threatening people, land, water, and wildlife all along the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. We are uplifting an incredible reporting series on this topic and its solutions from our friends at the Mississippi River Basin Ag and Water Desk. The 'Farm to Trouble' series offers a deep dive into this issue, which is one of our Mississippi River's most pressing and interconnected challenges, and presents ideas on what can be done to help. |
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| August 3rd: Mississippi Speed Record Documentary World Premier (Minneapolis, MN and Online) “Mississippi Speed Record: An Epic Adventure” is a new documentary about the journey of Guinness World Record setters for the fastest canoe trip down the Mighty Mississippi. Check out the trailer here. Here's how you can join in person or online, wherever you are! World Premiere Film Screening (in person only)
August 3rd, 10:30 am
Riverview Theater, 3800 42nd Ave S., Minneapolis, MN The film will be followed by a Q&A session with all four paddlers and the filmmakers from Wilderness Mindset. Tickets are $15. VIP Tickets ($50) include a ticket to the premiere, a DVD, and a donation to Mississippi River Network. After Party and Discussion Panel (in person and online)
August 3rd, 5 - 8 pm (Livestream begins at 6:30 pm CST), DoubleTree by Hilton, Minneapolis Airport Join the celebration at this one-of-a-kind pizza party. Award-winning writer Frank Bures will host a panel discussion with the four paddlers, filmmakers, and several support crew members. Admission is $25 ($5 for kids under 12). The panel discussion livestream is $10, and part of the proceeds will be donated to Mississippi River Network. |
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| New Mississippi River Books It has been a fabulous year for new Mississippi River books hitting the shelves. Our friend and author, Boyce Upholt, shared this list of standouts: |
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| August 10th: Spirit of Water (St. Paul, MN) Join on August 10, 2024, for a celebration with Mississippi River! Gather to connect, learn, pray, engage, play, celebrate, and honor the spirit of water. This year, Spirit of Water will meet at Hidden Falls Regional Park in St. Paul, MN from 5:00–8:00 PM for a community celebration featuring speakers, music, booths, food, art, and play areas for children. These partners are co-presenting the event: Resilient Indigenous Sisters Engaging (R.I.S.E. Coalition), Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light, and Friends of the Mississippi River. The event is designed to highlight the care and responsibility involved in protecting and sharing valuable water resources—like Mississippi River. |
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| River Days of Action 2024 Positively Impacts Our Mighty Mississippi! A special thank you to all our River Citizens who took part in River Days of Action 2024 (and welcome to those who just joined us during River Days!). This is one of our most impactful initiatives of the year, and it's always rewarding to see the collective results of our actions. Together, we are making a difference for the people, land, water, and wildlife of the Mississippi River! |
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| | Can the River Count on You? |
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|  | Thanks for being part of our River Citizen community. Whether in armchairs or wading boots, River Citizens are people like you who care about the River and take action to protect it. We hope this newsletter gives you many ideas on how to jump in and make a difference. Donating is another simple way you can take action to protect the people, land, water, and wildlife of the Mississippi River. Can the River Count on You? |
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| 1 Mississippi is the national public program of the Mississippi River Network. Since 2009, 1 Mississippi has built a community of 20,000 River Citizens and inspired thousands of actions. From armchairs to wading boots, River Citizens protect the River by speaking up on its behalf and caring for it in simple ways that make a difference. |
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