Upper Mississippi River Basin Association

03/12/2026

UMRBA is grateful for the opportunity to meet with the Mississippi Valley Division (US Army Corps of Engineers) and three Upper Mississippi River Districts, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to talk about our partnership and our joint vision for a sustainable Upper Mississippi River that supports the Midwest economy, the floodplain ecosystem, and the many people who depend on and interact with the river.

This week, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) and the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) held a stakeholder meeting in Vicksburg at the headquarters of the Mississippi Valley Division (MVD). UMRBA is proud to continue its strong collaboration with the MRC in support of one of our nation’s most vital natural resources—the Mississippi River.

By working together, UMRBA and the MRC bring states, federal partners, and regional stakeholders to the same table to share knowledge, align priorities, and advance solutions that support navigation, ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, and the communities that depend on the river every day.

This partnership helps ensure that decisions affecting the Mississippi River Basin are informed by science, regional perspectives, and a shared commitment to long-term sustainability. Through open dialogue, coordinated planning, and mutual respect, we are building a stronger future for the river and the millions of people who live, work, and recreate along it.

We look forward to continuing this collaboration and advancing innovative approaches that protect the health, resilience, and economic importance of the Mississippi River Basin.

01/27/2025

Over the past three decades, the Upper Mississippi River watershed has become saltier, by an average of 35%, according to the How Clean is the River? report. Salt prematurely ages roads and bridges, degrades freshwater lakes, streams, and drinking water, and harms aquatic life that live in our rivers and streams. A teaspoon of salt permanently pollutes five gallons of water. There are no easy solutions for removing chloride from runoff and wastewater. Our best solution is to address the source by reducing the amount of salts that are applied in the watershed.

The Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) is partnering with organizations across the country to elevate the conversations around winter salt pollution and reduction solutions. Winter Salt Week is scheduled from Monday, January 27th to Friday, January 31st, with daily live streams 12:30 CT. Winter Salt Week will feature speakers Abby Hileman (Izaak Walton League of America), Jess Hua (UW-Madison), Cara Hardesty (Ohio EPA), Ted Diers (New Hampshire Department of Environmental Protection), Bryan Gruidl (City of Bloomington, Minnesota), and Public Works staff from across the country. More information can be found via the following website: https://wintersaltweek.org/