What is the Mississippi River Local and Tribal Leaders Agreement?
A Mississippi River Compact would be a legal agreement between all ten mainstem Mississippi River states and the Federal Government. If enacted, a Compact could provide a forum for management over the entire watershed comprehensively using the sovereign powers of both state and federal governments.
Getting to a Mississippi River Compact is an epic endeavor, requiring the legislatures of all states to pass identical language adopting the Compact, and the US Congress to approve it. But are there steps that can be taken now to advance this cause?
One step that’s being advanced is the Mississippi River Local and Tribal Leaders Agreement (MRTLA). This agreement will strengthen collaboration among communities in the watershed by building a unique foundation for collective action and collaboration dedicated to the Mississippi River led from the local level. This agreement builds toward an interstate water compact by showcasing the extraordinary work that local governments and Tribes are already doing to protect the river. The work is being led by Alexandra Campbell-Ferrara, co-founder of the Center for Water Security and Cooperation, a non-partisan, non-profit environmental organization specializing in water policy and law based in Washington DC.
The MRTLA is primarily for governments, but non-profit and for-profit organizations can also get involved by becoming "Future of the River Advisors".
A Mississippi River Compact would be a legal agreement between all ten mainstem Mississippi River states and the Federal Government. If enacted, a Compact could provide a forum for management over the entire watershed comprehensively using the sovereign powers of both state and federal governments.
Getting to a Mississippi River Compact is an epic endeavor, requiring the legislatures of all states to pass identical language adopting the Compact, and the US Congress to approve it. But are there steps that can be taken now to advance this cause?
One step that’s being advanced is the Mississippi River Local and Tribal Leaders Agreement (MRTLA). This agreement will strengthen collaboration among communities in the watershed by building a unique foundation for collective action and collaboration dedicated to the Mississippi River led from the local level. This agreement builds toward an interstate water compact by showcasing the extraordinary work that local governments and Tribes are already doing to protect the river. The work is being led by Alexandra Campbell-Ferrara, co-founder of the Center for Water Security and Cooperation, a non-partisan, non-profit environmental organization specializing in water policy and law based in Washington DC.
The MRTLA is primarily for governments, but non-profit and for-profit organizations can also get involved by becoming "Future of the River Advisors".
Above is a screen grab from the CWSC website. The links shown are not active, but here you go:
Learn more here
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Learn more here
Sign up here
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LWV UMRR's Work:
LWV UMRR is working with the CWSC to interest local and tribal leaders throughout the Upper Mississippi basin in participating in the agreement. This work is being led in Minnesota by Susan Russell Freeman from Minneapolis. We will share her reports and and successes on this page and in our newsletters. Additional resources:
Exploring the idea of a Mississippi River Compact Mississippi River Mayors mobilize for resilience The vision behind the Mississippi River Local and Tribal Agreement Frequently asked questions about the MRLT Agreement How LWV Members can help support the MRLT Agreement The website for the Center for Water Security and Cooperation |
Susan Russell Freeman. Click her image for a link to an excellent story about her career
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