Upper Mississippi River Watershed

The Audubon Strategic Plan set up a process to identify regional issue campaigns. The Upper Mississippi River Campaign is the first regional campaign.

"The Upper Mississippi River and its Watershed -- a place where people prosper, and birds, fish and wildlife thrive in a healthy environment."

To help realize this vision, NAS, through its 50 chapters and the nearly 50,000 members in the river's five-state watershed (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri), will collaborate with others on three immediate objectives (sample goals follow objectives):

1. To inform people about the ecological significance of the Upper Mississippi and its watershed for birds, fish, wildlife, habitat and people:
   • Design, fund and implement a birding trail on roads along the Upper Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers
   • Sponsor field trips on the river
   • Collaborate on exhibits with river museums and communicate through Audubon Adventures publications
   • Provide presentations, slide shows and an Internet Web site
2. To take direct action at selected urban, rural and natural places on the river and in the watershed, resulting in definitive protection of existing habitat and restoring habitat that has been lost:
   • Work with land trusts and public agencies to help protect and restore specific critical river habitats
   • Support urban riverfront renewal efforts
   • Support the stewardship and protection of wildlife refuges in the watershed
3. To influence public decisions and actions that affect the quality of the water, health of the soil, and the ecological value of habitat in the river, lands and blufflands, and the landscapes of the watershed:
   • Support the Environmental Management Program (EMP) for the Upper Mississippi River
   • Monitor and comment on navigation system studies
   • Collaborate with others in completing a report on the natural resources of the Upper Mississippi River

For More Info, Contact: Dan McGuiness, NAS Upper Mississippi River Campaign; 26 E Exchange St., #215, St. Paul, MN 55101; ph: 612/290-1695; FAX: 612/225-4686; e-mail: dmcguiness@audubon.org.