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Flood Delays Restoration of Ouachita River Floodplain
Mother Nature intervened in partners’ efforts to breach a levee on the Ouachita River in northern Louisiana, but floodplain restoration will still go forward as planned. See how best laid plans can go awry.
Water Producer Program Will Benefit Rio de Janeiro
An innovative program in Brazil compensates landowners who help protect the freshwater supply for Rio de Janeiro by maintaining and restoring forests. Learn more about how reforestation “produces” water.
Conference on Sustainable Use of Mississippi River
A conference in August will engage boaters, scientists, the navigation community and others in helping to turn the vision of a sustainable Mississippi River into reality. Get more details and register for the conference.
Conservancy’s Calmon Receives Muriqui Prize
The Nature Conservancy’s Miguel Calmon received the prestigious Muriqui Prize for his contributions to protecting and restoring Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Learn more about Miguel’s work and the award.
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By Cate Harrington
The Upper Mississippi River Floodplain Wetlands site was designated a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance on May 8, 2009, making it the 27th U.S. wetland to receive the Ramsar designation.
The site, encompassing 122,000 acres of backwater wetlands and other floodplain habitats, includes the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Effigy Mounds National Monument and multiple state-managed units in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.
These wetlands provide habitat essential for the survival of several mussel species, support hundreds of thousands of water birds during spring and fall migrations and support significant populations of more than 100 fish species. See USFWS announcement for more details.
The Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971, is an intergovernmental treaty that provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.
Photo credits (top to bottom, left to right): Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge © USFWS; American lotus © Andrew Simpson/TNC
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