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Great Rivers Partnership
Explore the Mississippi River
Grab your spirit of adventure, put on your travelin’ shoes and join The Nature Conservancy for a virtual 13-day journey along the Mississippi River from its headwaters in Minnesota to its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico!
Hear the stories of people who depend on this mighty river for their livelihoods and inspiration. Learn how the Conservancy and its partners are working to protect and restore America’s Great River.
Day 1, Morning: Jumping off from the Headwaters
One of the world’s mightiest rivers, the Mississippi begins modestly as a shallow stream in Itasca State Park, Minnesota. Hear why the Mississippi inspires one visitor and keeps her coming back year after year. Learn More
Day 1, Afternoon: Mother Nature’s Sacred Gift
Farther downstream of the headwaters, visit a Native American wild rice processor, learn how to harvest wild rice and hear about the threats facing this “sacred gift from mother nature’s garden.” Learn More
Day 2, Surprising Finds in Urban Waters
In a busy stretch of river near Minneapolis-St. Paul, native mussels are making a comeback after decades of absence. Visit with mussel expert Mike Davis and hear one possible, and surprising, reason why. Learn More
Day 3, Morning: The River Under a Microscope
Spend the day with U.S. Geological Survey scientists delving into the mysteries of Asian carp, zebra mussels and native fish both in and out of the river at a research facility in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Learn More
Day 3: Afternoon: Shocked Out of the Depths
See how fish shocking and other techniques are used to monitor the abundance, health and diversity of fish species like perch, bass and catfish across 1,200 miles of river. Learn more
Day 4, If You Build It, They Will Return
Once abundant, many islands in the Upper Mississippi River have virtually disappeared since the locks and dams were built in the 1930s. See how an effort by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Conservancy and other partners to rebuild the islands and temporarily restore more natural water levels behind the dams is already reaping rewards for fish, birds and outdoor enthusiasts. Learn more
Day 5: Paddle Wheeler Provides Glimpse of Past and Future
Step aboard a genuine twin paddle wheeler in Dubuque and take a trip down memory lane with Captain Walt. Enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge where eagles and egrets abound. See how Dubuque's past is giving way to its future, and how a city that once turned its back on the river is beginning to embrace the opportunity provided by its beauty and diversity. Learn more
Day 6: Barge Captain Has Little Room For Error
Maneuvering 15 barges through the Melvin Price Locks and Dam is all in a day’s work for Captain Larry ‘Rabbit’ Sanders, whose Robin B. Ingram barge is one of many hauling cement, coal and other products to markets near and far. See how navigation on the mighty Mississippi has changed and stayed the same since Samuel Clemens (prior to becoming celebrated author Mark Twain) was a steamboat pilot. Learn more
Day 7: Asian Carp Encounter Could Ruin Your Day
The next time you're boating on the Mississippi River, watch your head! Aquatic ecologist John Chick talks about the damage that Asian carp are wreaking on the river system and unwary humans who startle them. Controlling these invasive fish with their voracious appetites is proving to be a real challenge. Hear some of the ideas that John and other scientists are considering. Learn more
Day 8: A Sentry for Shorebirds
Dreams are becoming reality for Conservancy member and avid birder Paul Bauer whose home away from home is the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary near St. Louis. See what's landing and taking flight on a stretch of the Mississippi called Ellis Bay and learn about a special effort by the Army Corps of Engineers to create a managed habitat for Bauer's feathered friends. Learn more
Day 9: Duck Hunter’s Mecca
Enter the beautiful bottomland forests of Arkansas’ Delta and meet duck hunter George Dunklin near Stuttgart, a town that bills itself as the Rice and Duck capital of the world. Take a tour of his 10,000-acre rice farm and see how he and biologist Jodie Pagan manage the land with kid gloves. Discover why duck hunting benefits both conservation and local economies. Learn more
Day 10: Donuts Only a Bear Could Love
Bear expert Brad Young is on a mission. His target: ‘E05-0’, an American black bear whose batteries in its GPS collar are running low. Join the adventure as Young smothers day-old donuts with the “sweet” aroma of wild hog attractant bait to lure ‘E05-0’, and learn about how the black bear population is making a comeback in the heart of Mississippi’s Delta National Forest. Learn more
Day 11: Bringing Back Bottomland Forests
Oaks, sweetgums, persimmons and more. Witness the rebirth of bottomland forests at one of the Conservancy’s reforestation efforts in the Tensas River Basin project in northeast Louisiana. Hear from project manager Ronnie Ulmer about what restoration means for migratory birds, the Louisiana black bear and carbon storage. Discover how you can support this project through voluntary carbon offsets. Learn more
Day 12: Rebuilt Homes Music to Residents’ Ears
Five years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wreaked havoc on the city and people of New Orleans there are signs of hope and recovery. Take a tour of the Musicians’ Village in the Upper Ninth Ward to see how the brainchild of jazz legends Harry Connick, Jr. and Branford Marsalis is taking form one colorful house at a time. Learn more
Day 13: Journey’s End on Grande Isle
The culmination of a remarkable 13-day journey down the Mississippi ends on Grand Isle, a small barrier island off the coast of Louisiana where life abounds. Here you will meet Gulf fisherman Terry Pizani who describes how his livelihood is intertwined with the river, and learn about the Conservancy's work to stem the loss of coastal wetlands through oyster reef restoration. Learn more
Meet the Nature Conservancy Crew
To capture the sights, sounds and stories of the Mississippi River a small crew of Conservancy staff made the journey from the headwaters in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. Learn more
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