The Mississippi River watershed is one of North America’s most important natural and economic systems. Spanning 31 states and two Canadian provinces, it provides resources for 95 million people, supports navigation and agriculture, sustains fish and wildlife habitat, and connects thousands of communities. Yet the watershed also faces increasing challenges—from worsening floods and droughts to declining water quality, aging infrastructure, and habitat loss.
Addressing these challenges requires collaboration at the scale of the watershed.
That spirit of collaboration was on full display at the 2026 River Connections: Science & Strategy Workshop, where approximately 240 participants from across the watershed gathered to strengthen partnerships, bridge the gap between science and implementation, and advance shared priorities for the Mississippi River Watershed Partnership (MRWP).
We’re excited to share that the River Connections Summary Report is now available.
Bringing Science and Action Together
A major theme throughout the workshop was the need to better connect science with on-the-ground decision-making. A broad group of researchers, agency staff, nonprofits, and industry representatives discussed how to improve coordination across the watershed so that science can more effectively inform restoration, infrastructure investments, and community resilience.
Participants emphasized several priorities, including:
- Strengthening coordination of science across the watershed
- Expanding standardized monitoring and data sharing
- Improving science communication to support better decision-making
- Building stronger partnerships across sectors and geographic regions
These conversations reinforced that no single organization can address watershed-scale challenges alone. Progress depends on shared knowledge, coordinated action, and long-term collaboration.
Advancing Partnership Priorities
The workshop also marked an important milestone for the Mississippi River Watershed Partnership.
Participants refined implementation roadmaps across the Partnership’s five focus areas—Fish & Wildlife, Floods & Droughts, Inland Navigation, Recreation, and Water Quality—while also advancing cross-cutting work in science, communications, and policy.
The report summarizes recommendations and next steps for priority actions, including:
- Improving flood and drought resilience
- Supporting watershed-wide science coordination
- Advancing nature-based solutions
- Strengthening water quality efforts
- Improving economic understanding of the river
- Expanding recreation access
- Enhancing navigation data and decision support
Together, these roadmaps provide a practical path forward by identifying priority actions, key partners, and opportunities for collaboration.
Building the Partnership
The workshop introduced the Partnership’s organizational structure, featuring the newly established Leadership Council and outlining the future Federal Agency Network, Technical Committees, and Strategy Committees.
These groups will help guide implementation, foster collaboration across sectors, and provide opportunities for partners to contribute their expertise as the Partnership continues to grow.
The workshop also continued discussions around the long-term vision for a federally supported Mississippi River Watershed Program that would build upon existing initiatives while providing sustained coordination and investment across the watershed.
Looking Ahead
The River Connections workshop demonstrated the tremendous expertise, passion, and commitment that exists throughout the Mississippi River watershed. As the Partnership moves forward, priorities include launching committees, progressing roadmap tasks, strengthening communications, expanding engagement with Tribal Nations and federal partners, and continuing to build support for coordinated watershed action.
This report captures more than a summary of a meeting—it reflects a growing movement of organizations and individuals working together to create a healthier, more resilient Mississippi River watershed.
We invite you to explore the full report and learn more about the progress being made across the watershed.