Mississippi River

Audubon’s Mississippi River Water Initiative is a watershed-wide program, aligning the work of three regional offices, several centers and sanctuaries, and our national strategy teams. We partner with stakeholders, advocates, and decision-makers on efforts to improve or preserve critical habitat and community resilience in the Mississippi River Basin. Our blueprint for a Resilient Lower Mississippi River states, "We envision a healthy and connected network of habitats throughout the Mississippi River region that support sustainable bird populations and strengthen the resilience of human communities against both human-made and natural threats.” 

We seek a more resilient and ecologically vibrant future for the Mississippi River through three key action items: 

• Supporting avian monitoring and research efforts along the river to fill critical science gaps and develop implementation strategies that align with science-based management and adaptation plans.
• Implementing on-the-ground conservation measures: restoring and preserving ecosystems through collaboration with federal, state, and local decision-makers, and other community stakeholders. Beyond ecosystem restoration, Audubon also works with local communities to implement community resilience measures centered on nature-based solutions, focusing on equity in access to management decisions and resource allocation.
• Engaging with elected officials and natural resource managers along the river to enact and implement policies that promote a healthy and resilient environment for priority bird species and human communities. Audubon works from the halls of Congress to local city councils at the federal, state, and community levels to achieve policies and funding implementation in alignment with our watershed goals.

We take a whole-river approach to conservation along the Mississippi River. In addition to our national team, the Mississippi River Water Initiative is supported by regional expertise from Audubon Upper Mississippi River, Audubon Great Lakes, and Audubon Delta.