| Greetings, friend, Did you know the River breathes? I see Spring floods as the River inhaling deep; filling up, and expanding beyond its banks. While with late summer droughts, the River exhales and contracts its shape. The River is alive, and seasonal floods are a reminder of this. To align with its natural rhythms and protect people, land, water, and wildlife, we advocate for long-term solutions like creating more habitat by reconnecting floodplains and restoring wetlands (read on to learn how you can help). |
| This year's Spring flood certainly looks different depending on where you are, with its most significant impacts occurring in Upper Mississippi River communities. What does the River (or tributaries or the seasonal change in general) look like near you? We'd love to hear from you. Please email me a story or a photo or send it on social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter). Enjoy the rest of your "overflowing with River goodness" May 2023 River Citizen newsletter! - Michael Anderson, Director of Outreach and Education, Mississippi River Network |
|
|
| |
|
| May Featured Event: Health Farms = Healthy Rivers Webinar |
|
|
| What does Farm Bill have to do with the Mississippi River? Whether you are a farmer or someone who cares about the relationship between food, farms, and the River, Please join us to learn more about this important piece of legislation and how it can be used to protect our River. The webinar will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, May 16th, from 12 - 1 pm CT. Register here to receive the Zoom link and to receive the recording. During this webinar, the Mississippi River Network's (MRN) Policy Director, Maisah Khan, will talk about the connection between agriculture and our waterways, provide an overview of the Farm Bill, identify restoration and conservation programs that impact our Mississippi River, and share ways to take action. If you have any questions, please email Maisah at mkhan@1mississippi.org. |
| |
|
| |
|
| Are You Ready To Have Fun Taking Action for the River? |
|
|
| We are just about a month from our annual River Days of Action! Woot! We hope you are as excited as we are. River Days of Action 2023 takes place June 8th - 18th and brings together thousands of people and River Citizens from up and down the River and across the country for events, activities, action, and fun. Be on the lookout next week as we launch the official 2023 River Days of Action webpage! The webpage is your hub for finding events and opportunities. Sneak peek: we already have nearly 30 in-person and online events on the River Days webpage calendar for you to choose from! Stay in the loop with the most up-to-date information by joining the River Days of Action mailing list here. See you next week for the website launch! |
| |
|
| |
|
|
More Opportunities From Our Network Members + Partners |
|
|
|  | Mississippi Speed Record Team Launches from Headwaters May 7th The goal of the Mississippi Speed Record (MSR) seems simple: canoe 2296 miles down the Mississippi River as fast as humanly possible. But of course, for this adventure of a lifetime, the four-person team will face many challenges in their attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the fastest time canoeing the length of the Mississippi River by a team. Learn more on MSR's website and follow along on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. |
| | |
|
 | Action Alert: Tell EPA to Expand Drinking Water Protections Against PFAS Contamination Join fellow advocates and the Waterkeeper Alliance in urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to swiftly implement drinking water protections against PFAS (per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination. These "forever chemicals" are linked to several serious human health conditions. We need national standards for PFAS. Over 2500 people have already taken this action - will you? |
| | |
|
 | Into the Delta: New Relay of Voices Chapter Released! Relay of Voices is a one-of-a-kind, online storytelling 'book'. On the new interactive website, stories of the River and its people flow from the Headwaters to Gulf. The latest chapter - Into the Delta - is now available. Hint: the key to navigating the webpage is to scroll! Move along the path by scrolling and clicking on the pins to enter an immersive storytelling experience. The latest chapter begins with location pin #76. |
| | |
|
|
|
| Help Us Work on Long-Term Solutions |
|  | When floods strike, we know River Citizens and others are first to help with on-the-ground relief efforts. As Spring flooding moves along the Mississippi River, we know you’ll continue to support these urgent needs. We are also asking for your help with longer-term solutions to prevent or reduce the most harmful consequences of flooding. Mississippi River Network and our member organizations work on a variety of ways to help reduce the impact of floods and increase the resiliency of the communities throughout the Mississippi River basin - for instance, reconnecting floodplains and restoring wetlands. Will you support this important work by making a donation today? |
| | |
|
| | 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. |
| |
|
| | |
|
|
