LWV Upper Mississippi River Region - Who we are, what we do...

LWV Upper Mississippi River Region ... in these blog posts we talk about what we do, where we go, our events, our beliefs.  But what is the LWV Upper Mississippi River Region, anyhow?  

Comprised of about 50 local Leagues across the Upper Mississippi watershed, we have a broad network and many interrelated issues to address.  Our program of action - the things we work on - is set every year at our Annual Meeting with approval from our membership.  Since our incorporation on October 25, 2015, we have been focused on working to reduce the amount of nutrients - fertilizers and wastes - that are discharged to the Mississippi.  

In our four states, this work takes different forms.  In Minnesota, our members advocate for stronger groundwater protections, help plan a major water-related lobbying day at the Capitol, and are working with other organizations to hold workshops for absentee owners of farmland.  We learn about and take positions on water issues, such as when we joined with LWV Wisconsin to speak out against the diversion of water from Lake Michigan.   And we work to shine a light on issues of groundwater depletion and pollution in parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota.  

In Illinois, LWV Jo Daviess County (Galena) has been leading efforts to develop local water plans and protections, and organize monitoring efforts to document water quality in the Galena River as well as local groundwater.  They have worked with the Rotary Clubs in the Midwest to educate and activate people on issues of nutrient pollution, and have received awards for their work.  

Our Board meets on the first Monday of even-numbered months.  We travel around the watershed, putting on events with local Leagues as part of our Board meetings.  Here are some examples from December and October of 2018.  When possible, we video our educational events and share the videos on our blog.  Our Annual Meetings are big events, with speakers and more.  In 2018, we were in Chicago for a joint meeting on LWV water work nationwide with LWV Lake Michigan; our 2017 Annual Meeting was in La Crosse and focused on water issues in Wisconsin.   

Who we are, what we do, is built upon our strong foundation from LWV at all levels.  The following statement was written by one of the founders of LWV UMRR, Bonnie Cox of LWV Jo Daviess County (Illinois).  Bonnie's statement is inspirational, and provides a guiding light as we work our issues.   We thank Bonnie for her work with UMRR!

Our blog posts document our work - here's a list of the posts as of December, 2018.  

Date                    Title 12/11/2018  LWV UMRR Advocacy Update 12/9/2018  Frustrations... lack of progress... environmental groups are maddened but EPA is pleased... 12/5/2018  LWV seeks to support non-operating owners of farmland 11/8/2018  Impact of the Midterm Elections on the Farm Bill 11/3/2018  Come to Coralville on Monday, December 3 11/3/2018  Foxconn update - the scale of the plant is shrinking, and with it the number of jobs... 10/11/2018  FARM BILL MYTH-BUSTING: THE CONSERVATION STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM 10/11/2018  Give the Gift of Water Quality 9/11/2018  Watershed Action - We're all in it Together! 9/3/2018  Wisconsin’s Water Needs Your Voice 8/31/2018  LWV UMRR River Events in Minneiska, Winona,  and Onalaska - September 26, 30 and October 1 8/27/2018  Update on the Racine Diversion 8/9/2018  Wastewater Reuse – Saving Freshwater while Providing for Economic Growth 7/24/2018  Minnesota's ongoing battle over nitrate in groundwater 7/24/2018  Down to the Wire on the Farm Bill 7/15/2018  Foxconn takes Wisconsin by Storm 6/21/2018  LWV's Water Work - Deep AND Wide 4/9/2018  Minnesota Water Action Day 2018 4/7/2018  LWV UMRR Annual Meeting - June 27 in Chicago 4/7/2018  Wisconsin Groundwater – the Policy and Science of Depletion and Nitrate Contamination 3/18/2018  Balancing Act to Protect the Upper Upper Mississippi 3/8/2018  EPA announces action plan to combat harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie 3/7/2018  The Science and Policy Debate ... come to Stevens Point for this April 2 discussion 3/6/2018  Water: Advocating for Protection - Put your League on the Map!  June 27, 2018 in Chicago - Join us! 3/6/2018  Wisconsin takes aim at algae - public comment open 2/25/2018  Industrial Ag in the Driftless Area 1/4/2018  Farmland Ownership and Rental: Managing for Stewardship 1/3/2018  Industrial Agriculture in the Driftless Area - upcoming conference on Jan 20 in Boscobel, Wisconsin 1/3/2018  Improving the Farm Bill's Conservation Programs 12/6/2017  LWV Jo Daviess recognized in a big way for their water quality work! 11/29/2017  Groundwater Depletion – Balancing Use to Reduce Conflicts in Minnesota 11/28/2017  Protecting Wisconsin Well Owners and Providing Safe Water 11/27/2017  Field Day at Fox Demo Farms near Green Bay 11/1/2017  LWV UMRR at the Headwaters... 11/1/2017  Pipelines and Water 9/8/2017  Cover Crop and Soil Health Learning Tour - Report from the Field 9/1/2017  “Water has to be a non-partisan life issue.” 8/28/2017  Doing Things "The League Way" in Jo Daviess County 8/27/2017  EPA’s Clean Water Rule – Act Now to Share your Comments with EPA 8/26/2017  LWV UMRR Headwaters Event – October 1-2, 2017 6/23/2017  Watershed Game Leader Training - Rockford, Illinois  - September 22 or 23 6/20/2017  When it hits the fan...  groundwater quality and public health 6/20/2017  Citizen Voices Matter - Especially Now! 6/20/2017  Fishers and Farmers Partnership 6/18/2017  Make a Difference - Fight to Win! 6/17/2018  Mayor Kabat - Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative 4/18/2017  Pipelines - Impact on Environment, Tribal Rights and Action 3/31/2017  Des Moines Water Works lawsuit summarily dismissed, closing this chapter but not solving the problem 3/31/2017  Dead Zone season is coming again to a major water body affected by you 3/10/2017  Galena Rotary Roundtable - Videos Now Available 3/6/2017  Smithsonian's WaterWays winds up Minnesota and Illinois tour  2/11/2017  Wisconsin Water Lobby Day builds a network that will be impossible to ignore 2/11/2017  Environmental Issues Generate Buzz at Iowa Capitol - March 29 2/4/2017  Water Lobby Days set in Wisconsin and Minnesota 1/29/2017  Iowa Supreme Court issues response in Des Moines Water Works lawsuit 1/29/2017  Retired Cargill CEO – Nutrient pollution is a ‘wicked problem’ 1/29/2017  Minnesota Governor vows no further compromise on riparian buffers 1/5/2017  University of Iowa's Dr Peter Weyer on cancer and birth defects due to elevated nitrate in drinking water 1/1/2017  Nutrient Pollution and Your Health 12/7/2016  Water - We're all in the Same Boat! 11/20/2016  Cedar River and Linn County – partnerships for watershed improvement 11/15/2016  Becoming a Player in the Watershed Game 11/13/2016  Des Moines Water Works Lawsuit Update 11/7/2016  Jump In!  to Watershed Protection 11/23/2016  Positive Values of Water 8/31/2016  Linn County Iowa moves ahead to protect and improve water quality 8/29/2016  Galena in the autumn, great place for Watershed Game training! 8/29/2016  From Brown to Green  8/23/2016  Valuing the river and its ecosystem in La Crosse 8/23/2016  Cover crops and soil health are vital to water quality improvement