But first…
Since the Upper Minnesota River Initiative (UMRI) is first and foremost inspired by water, we are thrilled to be participating in the “We Are Water” exhibit and events that arrive in the Driftless region with early spring. Equally thrilling is UMRI’s “Give! In the name of Love!” campaign to match a welcome donation from Bill and Lynne Rogers. But way before spring is the next program of our “Thinking Like a Watershed” series on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Here’s why and how to join us online for this free monthly program on good work nearby.
“The Power of 1 Mississippi and 20,000 River Citizens” Register Here! for another extraordinary presentation—Our monthly web presentations continue Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. Central with a look at the Mississippi River Network. Listen and learn from this 30-minute example of how a coalition captures the synergy between ordinary people and legislative might to protect the country’s largest watershed.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with the link to join the program.
Tuesday, February 1, 2022, at 7 p.m. CT
Kelly McGinnis will address the Mississippi River Network’s (MRN) use of public outreach and policy advocacy to move forward the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act. She also will catch us up on other activities of the network, a coalition of 58 organizations dedicated to creating a healthier Mississippi River by working for the well-being of the people, land, water, and wildlife of America’s largest watershed.
This monthly series is a project of the Upper Mississippi River Initiative (UMRI) of the Izaak Walton League of America/MN Division, with co-hosts Chris Henning of the Panora Conservation Chapter and Des Moines Chapter Communication Director, Bud Hartley. We feature guests for 30-40 minute presentations that shed daylight on good works done in the name of the Mississippi and its uplands. The winter series is one way we uplift our shared goals for a cleaner river, a cared for environment, and kinder communities. Recorded programs are available shortly after they air live.
Links to recent “Thinking” presentations
Photo by: David Thoreson
— “Save Bloody Run Goes to Court” Thinking Like a Watershed ~ Steve Veysey— January 4th, 2022 An update from a Dedicated Water Policy Scientist who has turned Radical to Save Bloody Run.
—“Heartland Heroines” Thinking Like a Watershed ~ Robin Moore & Denise O’Brien— June 1, 2021 How two savvy conservationists empower working farm landowners to put their inner land ethic to work.
—“Planting Seeds to Grow Vibrant Communities” Thinking Like a Watershed ~ Chris Deal & Art Cullen— May 4, 2021 How Jefferson, Iowa’s Chris Deal is working with California Rep. Ro Khanna and others to grow vibrant rural communities in the Heartland with perspectives from Pulitzer Prize—winning journalist and editor of The Storm Lake Times, Art Cullen.
—“Watershed Bridges— Green to Blue” Thinking Like a Watershed ~ Vicki Nichols Goldstein & Seth Watkins— April 6, 2021 How improving soil health and water quality in Iowa and other inland states benefit watersheds that provide critical services from land to sea.
—“Local Heroes in Howard County” Thinking Like a Watershed ~ Neil Shaffer & Hunter Slifka— March 2, 2021 How they have incorporated several thousand acres of land under conservation programs–the largest percentage in Iowa.
—“The Accidental Conservationist” Thinking Like a Watershed ~ Wayne Fredericks— February 2, 2021 How an Iowa Farmer is Improving Natural Capital while Increasing Profits with Conservationist and Farmer, Wayne Fredericks from Mitchell County, Iowa.
Give! In the Name of Love!
match campaign starts in February
Bill and Lynne Rogers are fans of the UMRI on behalf of the river they have paddled for decades. In putting their money where their hearts are, the Rogers challenge others to match up to $5,000 for UMRI work related to hands-on engagement in stream sampling, education, and collaborations that protect and make better the Mississippi River. The campaign begins February 1st will run for 50 days through March 22nd. Please continued to check out our website for updates! Donations are always appreciated in the name of love!
Lifetime Conservationists Bill & Lynne Rogers support UMRI in the name of Love…and for future generations to come! Photo provided by the Rogers.
“We Are Water” comes to the Driftless
It feels like seasons from now but Mar. 3 and Ap. 24 will be upon us a mere snowmelt away. The March date signals the opening of the traveling “We Are Water” exhibit at the Winona County History Center. The Winona museum is one of five sites statewide to host it this year. Part water education, part community and partnership building, the multi-agency effort embraces complementary efforts by groups like our Driftless Save Our Stream (SOS) teams.
Not one to miss such an invitation, SOS volunteers will be part of a streambank cleanup program on April 24th – picking up litter, of course, but also doing some hands-on education around water testing. And if we have enough willing hands, we’ll dip a kick net into chilly April water and sort out wiggly displays of macroinvertebrates for some show ‘n tell. We’ll have more details here or contact Caroline van Schaik.
The museum exhibit closes April 25th, and before that date, we may find ourselves offering docent duties and local input into the state of Minnesota water right here in the Driftless. Soon after, our stream teams will be spring sampling at eight sites in Winona, Houston, Olmsted, and Filmore Counties – please contact Caroline if you are interested.
Water Quality Monitoring – the power of…
The national office of the Izaak Walton League of America recently published a terrific guide on water quality advocacy; some of our favorite UMRI people are case studies for their effective use of data to generate measurable change. There are sections on using water data, finding good partners for making a case for change, and how to make your water quality-related “ask.” The booklet reflects significant experience written into a friendly, example-full format. In the doing, it makes a strong argument for putting hard-collected data to work for better water anywhere.
The full document is here – scroll down to the Advocacy Guide for a link to the full pdf.
And while you are there, may I shamelessly draw your particular attention to our Iowa friends on page 26 and to our Austin friends on page 27! Driftless UMRI staff and the Austin team just completed a summer of water monitoring with Iowa colleagues in the Cedar River Watershed/Iowa. Funding was provided by UMRI with a grant from the IWLA Endowment Fund.