Hello, River Citizens!

We often get asked: "What can I do for our Mississippi River? How can I leave it better for people, land, water, and wildlife?" Check out our 10 Actions to Create a Healthier Mississippi River. Which one will you try this month?

1. Pick up garbage and pet waste: Heavy rains flush what is on land into storm drains and waterways. Beautify your community while acting for clean water.

2. Be smart with lawn and garden fertilizers: Using too much is bad for your wallet and our environment. When it comes to fertilizer, practice the 4 R's: right fertilizer, at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.

3. Connect with the River: We protect what we know. Attend a riverside event, take a canoe trip, or read stories at home. Experience the Mighty Mississippi for yourself!

4. Be heard: Elected officials make important decisions that affect our River. Find current advocacy actions here.

5. Use your dollar: Support the Mississippi River Network and our 58 member organizations.

6. Leverage your buying power: Purchase food from local farmers using responsible techniques.

The 2021 Dead Zone Cruise is underway

Every year a team of scientists measures the actual size of the Dead Zone. The 2021 measurement of the Dead Zone takes place July 25 through August 1. The measurement cruise provides a snapshot of the size of the Dead Zone. This single measurement cruise gives us important information about the size of the Dead Zone at cruising time, but not necessarily data about the largest (or the smallest) size of the Dead Zone throughout the summer. 

Think of it this way: what if you took a single picture of your backyard every summer? Would your picture look the same if you took it in May versus August? How about after a heatwave or a summer storm? 

Similarly, the annual measurement cruise can make the Dead Zone “look” very different depending on the weather conditions when it occurs. You may remember from years past that large tropical storms, heavy wind, or hurricanes have the effect of temporarily shaking up and shrinking the Dead Zone. Together, the forecast and the measurement cruise use science to help us understand the health of not only the Gulf of Mexico, but also the Mississippi River.

While the Dead Zone in the Gulf is one of the largest, nutrient pollution impairs lakes, beaches, and other water bodies in all ten Mississippi River corridor states. For example, if you live in Iowa, you can see how many beach advisories may be impacting your summer recreation plans here.

Harmful algal blooms have the potential of making our families sick and poisoning our pets. NOAA estimates that the Dead Zone costs U.S. seafood and tourism industries at least $82 million a year. At a time when our River communities are grappling with multiple disasters, this is money we cannot afford to lose.

Would you like to attend the next public meeting for the Gulf Hypoxia Task Force?

The Gulf Hypoxia Task Force is a state and federal partnership co-led by the Environmental Protection Agency that is responsible for addressing the Gulf Dead Zone and its underlying causes. The Task Force has a public meeting every fall and hears comments from the general public and interested stakeholders such as the Mississippi River Network (MRN).

We will continue to share more information on this opportunity. Take the next step and email MRN's policy director, Maisah, at mkhan@1mississippi.org. Let her know you are interested in learning more.

How do you dance? Barefoot? Shoes? In a chair? With your hands? Whatever your way, please join us in a celebratory dance! The Mississippi River Network's River Days of Action 2021 was a major success. We owe it to you and the people, land, water, and wildlife from Headwaters to the Gulf of our Mississippi River.

'River Days' spanned 10 days in June and involved 40+ in-person and virtual events involving 59 organizations and community partners. Over 2,500 people showed up and engaged! Many actions were taken to create a healthier River. However you engaged, know you made a difference. Thank you.

Now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity.

It's time for the Mississippi River to get the respect, attention, and care it deserves. During River Days of Action, you were probably one of the 3,500 people who signed our public petition supporting a new vision of restoration, resilience, and equity for our River.

We are thrilled to announce that the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act or 'MRRRI Act' has been introduced. Now, your support is needed. Take action today. Urge your Congressperson to support the MRRRI Act. It's quick. We have a pre-drafted email message and phone call script ready for you. 

Pollinator Festival

• When: Saturday, August 21, 10 am - 1 pm CT
• Where: Wakáŋ Tipi / Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary, St. Paul, MN
• About: Join Lower Phalen Creek Project, Friends of the Mississippi River and over 20 partner organizations for the 4th annual Pollinator Festival. Guided plant walks and giveaways, pollinator education and activities, speakers, artists and musical performances, frybread taco and smoothie food trucks, and more! See full details on the Facebook event.

Conservation Conversations: What's in Our Water?

• When: Wednesday, August 25th, 6 pm CT
• Where: Online event - register here
• About: Our expert for this conversation will be Harpeth Conservancy Science Director, Dr. Ryan Jackwood. He'll share with us what he's learned so far from water sampling along the Harpeth River, such as identifying potential E.coli hotspots. Learn what's in our water!