EPA
Budget Signals Good News for the Mississippi
River
Call me a cock-eyed optimist, but the news
this month that the Environmental Protection
Agency had allocated
nearly 46 percent of its budget for clean
and safe water made me feel better about the
Mississippi River's future. $17 million of
the budget for water is tied to nonpoint
source program enhancements for the Mighty
Mississippi. I know, I know. It still has
many hoops and hurdles and probably won't
end up being that much. Still, what a
refreshing thing to think about.
Part
of the beauty of the
EPA budget is it
supports the
U. S. Department of Agriculture's
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds
Initiative which is funded at
$320 million over four years. Putting these
two developments together means the
Mississippi River is getting some of the
much needed attention - and commitment - it
should have as America's Waterway.
This leads many to speculate on why this
expanded interest in the
Mississippi River now.
Some will say the many groups along the
River are finally having their voices heard.
Some may say the research conducted by the
National Research Council
and funded by the
McKnight Foundation is finally
gaining traction. My own belief is that we
finally have national leaders who come from
Mississippi River states: Agriculture
Secretary Valsack from Iowa and the
president himself from Illinois. Proximity
and first-hand experience still count for a
lot. And, since we are heartland states with
decreasing populations, it isn't often we
have Midwesterners in such powerful
positions. We shouldn't squander this
opportunity.
 Wouldn't it be great if
we had a unified Mississippi River
constituency at times like this? Such a
constituency could support these budget
items and make strong arguments for these
allocations. Who will speak for the
Mississippi River in upcoming budget
hearings? Who will back up the congressmen
and women who will want to support these
budget commitments over a wide variety of
other national needs being debated in the
2011 federal budget? The
Northeast-Midwest Institute
reports hearings begin this week. We have to
do our part.
A National Dialogue for the Future
of America's Waterway aims to
provide a platform for a Mississippi River
constituency.
America's Waterway -
and its yet-to-be-developed web site - aims
to provide the social and advocacy linkage a
River constituency needs to make that
effort. Let's heed this 2011 budget as yet
another indicator of the Mississippi's
importance and make sure a unified approach
develops soon. Pass this along to others who
should join in the effort and let us know if
you agree at
www.americaswaterway.org/blog/
April
13 Water Summit Features Alton, Illinois
Collaboration
 The Horinko
Group's Summit Connecting Water
Leaders Across Watersheds will host
a panel entitled The Mississippi River: The
Systems Approach: A Grassroots Perspective.
Among the panelists will be Dr. Dale
Chapman, Chair of
National Great Rivers Research and Education
Center in
Alton, Ill. Chapman will
highlight the way many interests - water
quality research, educational institutions,
economic development and tourism - have come
together at the confluence of the Illinois, Missouri
and Mississippi rivers to capitalize on the
strengths water has brought to this
community. America's Waterway will also join
in the discussion to reflect on the ways the
public can be engaged --- in much the same
way it has been in Alton - only on a
whole-River basis for the Mississippi River.
What works in individual communities can
also work for whole watersheds in an era of
technology and social networking.
Big River Magazine
Celebrates a Decade of Speaking for the
Mississippi River
In 2000, Reggis McLeod
took the plunge and created a magazine from
his newsletter and he's never turned back.
For 10 years, McLeod has shared stories that
range from biking to birding on the
Mississippi River, with a healthy dose of
environmental issues affecting the iconic
Mississippi River. As far as he knows,
McLeod believes theirs is the only magazine
devoted to a river. Check it out and
subscribe at
www.bigrivermagazine.com.
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