The Mississippi River watershed spans 31 states, from Montana to the Gulf of Mexico, providing critical resources to millions of people, farms, businesses and diverse ecosystems along the way. Unified by their commitment to keep the river system healthy, members of America’s Watershed Initiative (AWI) created the first-ever Report Card for the entire Mississippi River Basin.
The Report Card, which grades six goals for the watershed – from clean water to marine transportation to economy and ecosystem health – is a first step to addressing the major challenges that plague the Basin. The D+ grade sets a baseline for leaders to think through opportunities for improvement.
“Knowing what’s important and how to measure it is the foundation for us to take collaborative action to improve the watershed,” Michael Reuter, director of The Nature Conservancy’s North America Water Program explained.
Specifically, the Report Card helped ignite a sense of urgency among leaders to develop a plan of action to improve water infrastructure and supply, flood control systems and address the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico.
“The longer we wait to invest in raising the grade of America’s Watershed, the more it will cost our children, our national security and the nation’s future opportunities,” said Stephen Gambrell, director of the Mississippi River Commission.
Using the report card as a tool and motivated by an understanding that America’s future depends on healthy water systems, AWI members have pledged to collaborate on a three-year plan that lays out specific actions to raise the watershed’s grade.
“The rivers and waters in the Mississippi watershed are the life-blood for our nation, our economy and our communities,” said steering America’s Watershed committee member Steve Mathies. “Raising the grade for the watershed is critical for our continued economic vitality and that of our children and grandchildren.”
