Our Mississippi River provides us with so many gifts: drinking water, healthy habitats, cultural connections, and incredible recreation opportunities. How can we give back to our River? Today, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and the River needs your help. You can make a difference for people, land, water, and wildlife by sending an email via the form below. Take this fast and meaningful action now!

Background Information
Did you know the Mississippi River provides us with so much? More than 18 million people in 50 cities get their drinking water from the Mississippi. Our River is a migration "flyway" for 325 bird species and provides habitat for more than 780 animal species. Additionally, the Mississippi supports 1.3 million jobs and provides $400 billion in ecosystem services annually.

Unfortunately, habitat is being degraded, new sources of water contamination go unchecked, precious wetlands are being drained and lost, and flood damages are escalating. The threats are so severe that our beloved Mississippi River was named the #6 Most Endangered River of 2022 by American Rivers. We must give our mighty Mississippi the care and protection it needs.

Thankfully, solutions exist. Many people, organizations, communities, and elected officials have been working together to create the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (or 'The MRRRI Act'). This once-in-a-lifetime policy initiative will increase investments in:

1) clean water,
2) healthy habitats,
3) nature-based solutions to flooding, and
4) decrease harmful aquatic invasive species.

Now, it is your time to make a difference. Send your Senators and Congressperson an email by completing this form. We’ve heard from Congressional staff that receiving 100 emails from you — their constituents – has the same impact as one in-person meeting. If everyone in our 20,000-person strong 1 Mississippi River Citizen community takes this action, we will have made the same impact as having 200 meetings!

How to Take This Action
1. Add your information to the form. Doing so will automatically send your email to your two Federal Senators and one Federal Congressperson.

2. Add your personal comment to the pre-written email (more helpful information is below).

3. Hit 'Take Action' and hi-five yourself; you did it! Pass the action to family, friends, colleagues, and community members who will speak up for the River!

Adding a Personalized Message
Does your city source its drinking water from the Mississippi River? Are there basement backups in your neighborhood during flood season? Are you a bird watcher or a hiker who enjoys seeing migratory birds and native plants? Do you recreate and swim in a stream or tributary? If so, investments in clean water, healthy habitats, nature-based solutions, and decreasing aquatic invasive species will impact you.

Please tell your story by adding it to the email. It can be brief. Just remember that your elected officials represent you -- let them know what is important and why you care!

ABOUT US

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. Together we are protecting the River for future generations.