| Dear friend, Our staff team and Mississippi River Network member organizations are united in support for our lower Mississippi and Gulf Coast community members in the wake of Hurricane / Tropical Depression Francine affecting the area. Here is a list of ways to help people impacted by Francine from Axios New Orleans. We'll continue to share other supportive efforts from our member organizations and River Citizen community members (please email your ideas to info@1mississippi.org.) Read the rest of your September 2024 River Citizen newsletter for info on three exciting events on the upper, middle, and lower Mississippi River. We are also delighted to share a Mark 'River' Peoples blog that will transport you to an immersive experience with unique wildlife on the lower Mississippi River islands. Lastly, we provide an update on the size of the Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' (spoiler: it's bigger than expected) and how you can make a difference. |
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| Gulf of Mexico 'dead zone' larger than expected; size of New Jersey |
| In last month's newsletter, we described how fertilizer and other runoff pollute our water and can lead to harmful algal blooms throughout the River basin and generate 'dead zones' like in the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf dead zone - an area of low to no oxygen that can kill fish and marine life - is measured annually, providing a snapshot of upstream pollution reduction efforts' effectiveness. Unfortunately, this year's Gulf dead zone was larger than forecasted. It measured at approximately 6,705 square miles, or more than four million acres of habitat, making it the 12th-largest Gulf dead zone in 38 years of recorded measurement. |
| Experts fault upriver conservation efforts that are not keeping pace. “After nearly four decades of experience with the Gulf dead zone, it should be clear that we can’t continue to rely on the same policy tools to manage fertilizer pollution and expect a different result,” wrote Karen Perry Stillerman, deputy director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Perry Stillerman emphasized the need to demand a new approach, “one that not only helps farmers to shift their practices but also insists that they do so." |
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| | New Blog: When the Waters Return by Mark "River" Peoples |
| "We launch our Voyager canoes on a beautiful Thursday afternoon with one of the tallest buildings in Mississippi in our rearview mirror. The River is up and moving fast as small and large pieces of wood-laden debris ride the waves of water while some twist in the eddy. The canoe feels wonderfully balanced, reacting instantly to the adjustable strokes of my guide paddle. Like a horse that's rested and well fed, I'm efficient and powerful, moving swiftly on a rising, but soon to crest, incredible body of water..." Click here to continue reading Mark "River" People's latest blog, When the Waters Return. Also, be sure you are caught up on his podcast, May the River Be With You! |
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| | | September 21st: Mississippi Earthtones Festival (Alton, IL) Come celebrate life on the River at the 18th annual Mississippi Earthtones Festival on Saturday, September 21st, from noon to 10 pm CST in Alton, Illinois! This free and family-friendly event features 100+ educational booths, live music, interactive art experiences, performances, and great local food and beverages. Join festival organizer and Mississippi River Network member, Sierra Club Illinois Chapter, for fun and community, and learn about ways we can all be good stewards of our environment! Want to get out on the River? Join Mississippi River Network member, Mississippi River Water Trail Association, for the Great River Rendezvous taking place on the morning of September 21st! Choose from three paddling route options, all ending at the Mississippi Earthtones Festival in Alton, Illinois! |
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| Multiple September Dates: Grand Bayou Community Oyster Reef Build (Grand Bayou Indian Village - Diamond, LA) Join Mississippi River Network member, Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL), for a series of restoration volunteer events in Plaquemines Parish. Throughout September, CRCL, in partnership with the Grand Bayou Indian Village, is constructing a recycled oyster shell reef to protect local communities from wave action and erosion. Find more information about this exciting opportunity and how you can get involved here. |
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| Fall 2024: Network: A River Connected (Minneapolis, MN) Network: A River Connected is a collection of stories, photographs, videos, and nets that document artist Victoria Bradford Styrbicki's quest to understand how her own family history is woven into the diverse people, cultures, and landscapes of the Mississippi River. The exhibit was created by Mississippi River Network member, A House Unbuilt. It explores movement, language, and craft and illustrates a vast network of connections along the River's 2,340-mile course. It will be housed at Mississippi Watershed Management Organization from September 16th, 2024, to January 10th, 2025. |
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| | | | - Chicago Sun Times (May 2, 2024) - Why does Illinois' Department of Natural Resources claim the public has no right to 98% of waterways?
- Mississippi River Network (July 2024) - River Days of Action 2024 Impact Report
- Mississippi Free Press (August 21, 2024) - USDA Issues Payments to 13,000 Mississippi Farmers, Addressing Decades of Racial Discrimination
- Red Lake Nation News (August 23, 2024) - Indigenous ‘water walk’ to travel the St. Croix River in September
- KWQC (August 29, 2024) - Survey finds Latino voters concerned about Mississippi River health, environment
- Arkansas Democrat-Gazette (September 2, 2024) - As Delta towns lose population, unique culture and history disappear
- NPR (September 10, 2024) - Regenerative agriculture is sold as a climate solution. Can it do all it says?
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| 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. |
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