Dear River Citizens,

As I sat cradled in cottonwood roots, two young girls laughed in the warm sand of the riverbank. The youngest laid flat on her stomach and was inching, head first, toward the water’s edge like a recently hatched turtle. The towering cottonwoods and rolling Mississippi River didn't seem to mind. They've witnessed this scene countless times. I knew this public park was a special place, and today it served as a refuge for all walks of life seeking momentary peace from the virus sweeping our Earth. A gentle breeze coming off the water seemed to whisper, "everything will be OK".

My gaze returned to the water’s edge, where the young girls were now splashing about, giggling. Their joy radiated outward and I remembered why I dedicate my time to protecting the land, water, wildlife, and people of our Mississippi River. As fellow River Citizens, I believe you feel a similar way. I see many of you writing your elected officials, speaking up, and supporting your neighbors. Others are planting backyard gardens, cleaning up storm drains, and continuing to donate time, money, and resources.

You make a difference. I thank you for being apart of our resilient River Citizen community that is committed to creating a healthier and safer world. Big change can be intense. I wish you moments of balance, compassion towards yourself and others, and that you find special places wherever you are.

-Michael Anderson, Mississippi River Network

Floodplains and Wetlands are Natural Flood Solutions

From Associated Press article, Battered by floods, U.S. river communities try new remedies (4/28/2020): "But the floodplain awaiting this year’s surge is part of a changing picture, altered from just a few decades ago. It is now dotted with more parks, marshes and forests on land surrendered in recent years by communities and individuals. Some experts envision this expanding green patchwork as a promising model for relieving pressure on a river system that can no longer stay in its man-made channels. "It’s becoming evident that we have to do something different,” said Colin Wellenkamp, executive director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative. “That increasingly means shaping our cities around the river instead of shaping the river around our cities.”

Speak Out Against Draining Wetlands in the Mississippi Flyway

Act to protect 200,000 acres of Mississippi Flyway wetlands by June 15! Tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers you oppose the Yazoo Pumps and that they should advance immediate, affordable flood risk solutions that will protect local communities and birds that depend on the Mississippi Flyway.

A Fantastic Morning in the Marsh

Prepare yourself for a storied adventure in 'A Fantastic Morning in the Marsh'. Chris Stangl shares a tale of discovery and wonder while reflecting on a recent trip to an Upper Mississippi River USFW restoration area with his 10-year old nephew. Chris dispels the belief that wetlands only have value if they are 'drained and used as farmland or developed'. In Chris's words: "I write this blog to give a good in-depth view of one of the most interesting and visible of these values - the amazing creatures that need wetland areas and benefit greatly from their protection and restoration."

Upcoming River Events

River in the News

• STL Post-Dispatch (4/29/2020) - Letter: Spring flooding could add new disaster dimension
• Chicago Tribune (4/30/2020) - Battered by floods, US river communities try new remedies
• STL Business Journal (5/8/2020) - St. Louis needs better flood, floodplain management
• Milwaukee Sentinel (5/8/2020) - 2 men are canoeing all 2,300 miles of the Mississippi River to inspire others with disabilities
• Wired (5/11/2020) - How Albert Einstein's Son Tamed the Mississippi River: Multiple structures now keep the river from roaring into the Atchafalaya—but they may be inadequate against climate change. 

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About 1 Mississippi

The 1 Mississippi and River Citizen program is brought to you by the Mississippi River Network (MRN). MRN is a coalition of 56 organizations dedicated to protecting the well-being of the land, water, wildlife, and people of America's greatest river, the Mississippi. Direct questions or comments to info@1mississippi.org.