The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota Applauds Congress For Passing Legislation to Restore Upper Mississippi River

Water Resources Development Act Includes $1.7 billion for Upper Mississippi River Restoration

MINNEAPOLIS — November 13, 2007 — The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota today applauded Congress for approving the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA). One of the components of the legislation is the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program, which allows for up to $1.7 billion to restore ecosystems along navigable portions of the Mississippi River from Minneapolis, Minn. to Cairo, Ill.

“WRDA is crucial to The Nature Conservancy’s efforts to protect and restore the Upper Mississippi River Basin,” said Peggy Ladner, director of The Nature Conservancy in Minnesota. “The Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program will create and enhance habitat for native species, improve water quality, reduce the risk of flooding and increase recreational opportunities.

“We want to especially thank U.S. Rep. James Oberstar of Chisholm, Minn. for his leadership. As chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Oberstar was instrumental in developing this legislation and securing bipartisan support. We also had critical support from Minnesota’s Congressional delegation in helping pass WRDA including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who helped craft WRDA as a member of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee, and U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman, who co-founded the bipartisan Senate Mississippi River Task Force. U.S. Rep. Tim Walz of Rochester, Minn., a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and whose district includes the Mississippi River, was another key proponent.”

WRDA is the principal legislative act for authorization of Army Corps of Engineers projects and programs including locks and dams for inland waterway navigation, dredging of harbors, flood control, and ecosystem restoration. This legislation authorizes billions of dollars for projects and programs to restore wetlands, streams, floodplains and coasts. There are several new ecosystem restoration authorities created in this bill that will provide useful tools for restoring our nation’s aquatic ecosystems.

Potential Mississippi River restoration projects that would be funded by WRDA include building islands to river currents and creating terrestrial and aquatic habitat, restoring floodplains, lowering water levels during the summer to promote the growth of native vegetation, controlling harmful invasive species, dredging side channels and backwaters, and constructing fish passages.

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.