Record flooding in 2019 on the Mississippi and its tributaries have left many River communities wondering what's next. How do we rebuild and/or prepare for increasingly catastrophic high water events? Natural infrastructure provides many benefits and should be included in flood control policy and planning.

Learn more: petition for expanded use of natural infrastructure on the Mississippi River.

Natural Infrastructure on the Mississippi River refers to River system elements like wetlands and floodplains which act as 'safety valves' that take in floodwater, create wildlife habitat, and can help reduce the costs from flood damage.

Wetlands and Floodplains are most often connected to the main River channel and allow for sediment to settle and for the filtration of excess nutrients (like N, P) which are polluting the waters leading to hypoxic or dead zones.

The Mississippi River Network has launched a petition for the expanded use of natural infrastructure on the Mississippi River- click the button below:

Upper Mississippi River #3 Most Endangered Rivers List

American Rivers has released 2019's 10 Most Endangered Rivers in America. This year, the Upper Mississippi (as it runs along Iowa, Illinois, and Missouri) is #3.

From American Rivers: "The Upper Mississippi River is vital to the nation’s economy and is a globally significant ecosystem. However, this iconic river is threatened by illegal raises to the levee system that cut the river off from more than 170,000 acres of floodplain, increasing flood risk for communities and degrading vital fish and wildlife habitat. In order to safeguard communities and restore river health, state and federal agencies must enforce laws that prohibit reckless raising of levees and prioritize use of natural and nature-based flood protection solutions". 

Learn more on floodplain laws and take action here.