![]() There is a growing list of mayoral endorsements and state legislators in support of MRRRI as well. Mississippi River Restoration & Resilience Initiative: An Introduction from CGEE Hamline on Vimeo.įind the most updated list of House Cosponsors here. ![]() View a fact sheet here with more information.įiscal Year 2021 Interior-Environment Appropriations language can be found here. MRRRI would provide grants for restoration projects in river states, cities, townships, and tribal nations while prioritizing the most at-risk communities. Protect and restore wildlife habitat, in part by preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species.Reduce flood and storm risks and increase community resilience through ecologically sound management.Protect our drinking water, wildlife, and river-dependent industries by reducing runoff pollution.The Mississippi River Resiliency and Restoration Act directs the Environmental Protection Agency to work closely with other federal agencies, states, tribal nations, and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations to develop and coordinate the initiative, with these goals: With MRRRI, we have the chance to ensure this resource remains a healthy and thriving resource for generations to come. We all learned as children how to spell the “MISS-ISSI-PPI” – instilling in us the significance of this river. MRRRI will follow the successful model of the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) to ensure coordinated and sustained federal investments to restore the Mississippi River and protect it as a healthy working river. Make dedicated investments in those communities that have born the highest costs of environmental degradation.Prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species in the River system and.Protect and restore wildlife habitat and throughout the River corridor.Improve drinking water quality in the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico by reducing polluted runoff.Improve community resilience to climate change, and reduce flood risk by restoring floodplains, riverine wetlands, delta and coastal wetlands, and backwaters.The MRRRI Act authorizes new federal investments to: This initiative will coordinate efforts on conservation and environmental restoration along the entire river corridor and open up grant opportunities for state and local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations. That’s why I’m proud to introduce legislation that will establish the Mississippi River Resilience and Restoration Initiative (MRRRI). ![]() The health of the river is critical not just for the sake of the natural beauty, wildlife, and climate change-fighting capabilities of these resources, but for our economy and so our communities can thrive as well. 72 miles of the river are even part of our National Park System, within the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area.įrom the northernmost headwaters in Lake Itasca to the Mississippi Delta, the health of this great river continues to be at risk.įlooding and other extreme weather events, pollution, and runoff threaten the the river and surrounding communities. It is deeply tied to Native American culture – its name comes from the Ojibwe for “big river” and it is a sacred place of origin for many Dakota people. It’s surprising to many that the River is also a source of drinking water for 20 million Americans. It is the center of a $500-billion-per-year natural resource and recreation-based economy employing 1.5 million workers. It is a shipping corridor for goods and resources. It is woven into our culture, showing up in America’s literature, poetry, and music. The river plays a vital role in all of our lives. Today, because people who cared stepped up to protect it, the Mississippi is not only a working river but a place for families to enjoy. I have fond memories as a child of my father taking me to Hastings to watch with wonder at the raising and lowering of the locks to watch boats and barges make their way through the dam and down river. But for decades, no one cared for the river, and it became a source of pollution that was slowly killing the river ecosystem. The river was and continues to be a working river that is vital to transporting commerce. I grew up along the Mississippi River in South St. Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |