Watersheds Within Mississippi River Basin Selected For Conservation Dollars

Published: Nov 23, 2009
Washington, DC - 
United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that 41 watersheds in 12 states have been selected to participate in a new initiative to improve water quality and the overall health of the Mississippi River Basin.

Statement of Roger Still, Audubon Vice President, Mississippi River Initiative:

"Audubon commends Secretary Vilsack and National Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White for establishing a strong vision for conservation and restoration in the Mississippi River watershed.

"From nutrient pollution to habitat loss, our nation's largest and most important watershed faces many threats. The scope and scale of USDA's Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative will contribute significantly toward a healthier and more sustainable future for this system and all the people, birds and other wildlife that depend on it.

"Audubon's coordinated regional conservation efforts in the Mississippi River watershed align well with the USDA's initiative, and we look forward to working closely with the NRCS as plans are developed and implemented in the coming months."

For more on Audubon's work in the Mississippi River watershed, see mri.audubon.org.

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