Friend,

Do you book window seats when you fly? On a recent flight from Minneapolis to New Orleans, I was SO grateful I had a window seat, clear skies, and a (new to me) in-seat flight tracker. The entire flight, all I could do was flip my gaze back and forth from the flight tracker and what I saw out the window.

Nostalgia washed over me as memories poured in from when I canoed down the Mississippi back in 2017. For much of the flight, we followed our cherished Mississippi River. Even in a time of historic low water (which we talk more about below), I watched in awe as every tributary connected and grew our mighty River.

As an organizer of our 20,000-person-strong River Citizen community, this flight reminded me that the River connects us all and we are more united than divisive forces would want us to believe. Something that made this flight even better was that upon landing in New Orleans, I reunited with fellow River Citizens and Mississippi River Network members for our first in-person annual meeting in three years (also more on that below)!

For the River and with you all,
-Michael Anderson, Outreach and Engagement Manager, Mississippi River Network

You've likely seen the surplus of news reports recently highlighting the low water at many reaches of our Mississippi River. The current drought, which is gripping much of the central and western parts of the watershed, is having local impacts and downstream impacts on the Lower River and Gulf.

Whether it is drought, flooding, or another issue, we know that what happens in one part of the Mississippi River watershed (the vast area of land that drains into the River) impacts the whole. We are truly connected.

Thankfully, there are solutions. These include individual actions and coordinated efforts. We stand by the
"1 Mississippi mindset," and we advocate for solutions that solve for multiple problems. For example, restoring wetlands provides multiple benefits like water storage during floods, slower water release in drought, habitat for wildlife, recreational opportunities for people, and creates cleaner, less polluted water for all.

Your individual actions on their own may not stop droughts from happening, but our 10 Actions include a variety of simple but meaningful activities that make a difference in reducing the impact of droughts, flooding, pollution, and address many other concerns along the River. For instance, you can:

• Vote for candidates that make the River a priority and share your views on natural solutions for flooding and drought.
• Plant native plants that are more drought tolerant, use less water, and prevent erosion that leads to flooding. Fall is often a good time to plant for many species.
• Buy local food from sustainable farmers who use natural techniques that protect against flooding and drought while reducing runoff and pollution.

Will you pledge to take one of these 10 Actions before the end of the year?

The Mississippi River Network (MRN) is a coalition of over 60 organizations from up, down, and across the Mississippi River. These member organizations plus you - our River Citizens - make up 1 Mississippi.

In October, MRN member organizations came together for our annual meeting. They represented you, our River Citizens from all 10 states along the Mississippi River and beyond.

In our latest blog, hear from MRN members as they share their visions for the River and how we help make them a reality.

Today as we experience drought and historic low water levels, it's hard to believe that just three months ago there was flash flooding in Missouri and devastating floods and storms in Kentucky. We advocate for solutions that provide multiple benefits for drought, flooding, and more. Our work depends on a coordinated effort, and 1 Mississippi provides this. Your gift helps the people, land, water, and wildlife of our River.