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̽����ѡ’s Mississippi River Water Initiative is a watershed-wide program, aligning the work of three regional offices, several centers and sanctuaries, and our national strategy teams. We partner with stakeholders, advocates, and decision-makers on efforts to improve or preserve critical habitat and community resilience in the Mississippi River Basin. Our blueprint for a Resilient Lower Mississippi River states, "We envision a healthy and connected network of habitats throughout the Mississippi River region that support sustainable bird populations and strengthen the resilience of human communities against both human-made and natural threats.” 

We seek a more resilient and ecologically vibrant future for the Mississippi River through three key action items: 

• Supporting avian monitoring and research efforts along the river to fill critical science gaps and develop implementation strategies that align with science-based management and adaptation plans.
• Implementing on-the-ground conservation measures: restoring and preserving ecosystems through collaboration with federal, state, and local decision-makers, and other community stakeholders. Beyond ecosystem restoration, ̽����ѡ also works with local communities to implement community resilience measures centered on nature-based solutions, focusing on equity in access to management decisions and resource allocation.
• Engaging with elected officials and natural resource managers along the river to enact and implement policies that promote a healthy and resilient environment for priority bird species and human communities. ̽����ѡ works from the halls of Congress to local city councils at the federal, state, and community levels to achieve policies and funding implementation in alignment with our watershed goals.