The Mississippi River watershed connects communities, economies, and ecosystems across more than 1.2 million square miles and 31 states. Addressing the challenges and opportunities across this vast region requires collaboration among the many organizations working to support its rivers, communities, and natural resources.
The Mississippi River Watershed Partnership (MRWP) is building that collaboration, and applications are now open for individuals interested in serving on Partnership committees. For those who want to stay informed without taking on a committee role, there is also an opportunity to follow committee work and receive relevant updates.
Convened by America’s Watershed Initiative and The Nature Conservancy, MRWP provides a platform for partners to coordinate efforts, share knowledge, and advance shared priorities across the watershed. Through its Goals and Actions, the Partnership has identified opportunities for collective action that can benefit from stronger connections among organizations, sectors, and regions.
Get Involved in Advancing Watershed Priorities
MRWP committees will help turn the Partnership’s goals into action by bringing together people with relevant knowledge, experience, and interests. Eight committees are being established to support work across five technical focus areas and three cross-cutting strategies.
Technical committees will focus on:
- Fish & Wildlife
- Floods & Droughts
- Inland Navigation
- Recreation
- Water Quality
Strategy committees will focus on:
- Policy Education & Advocacy
- Communications
- Coordination & Convenings
Each committee will help identify opportunities to advance the Partnership’s Goals and Actions, strengthen connections among existing efforts, and support collaboration across the watershed.
Why Join an MRWP Committee?
Serving on a committee is an opportunity to contribute your expertise while also gaining value from the broader Partnership. Members can connect with peers working on similar challenges, learn about projects and initiatives across the watershed, share resources, and identify opportunities for collaboration that may strengthen their own organization’s work.
Whether you work for a government agency, nonprofit, university, industry organization, Tribal Nation, or another watershed partner, your perspective can help inform the Partnership’s direction. MRWP aims to bring together a range of experiences and expertise, recognizing that progress at the watershed scale depends on connecting efforts across disciplines, sectors, and geographic boundaries.
The Partnership is designed to complement—not duplicate—the work already underway. Committees will provide a space to identify shared priorities, exchange information, and explore where collaboration can make existing efforts more effective.
Apply to Join a Committee
Interested in actively contributing to the Partnership’s work? We encourage individuals who are interested in advancing shared priorities and collaborating with partners across the watershed to apply.
Submit a committee application here.
The application will help the Partnership understand your interests, experience, and preferred areas of involvement.
Prefer to Stay Informed? Follow a Committee.
You don’t have to be a committee member to benefit from or stay connected to MRWP’s work. If you are interested in a particular focus area but are not able to commit to committee participation, you can sign up to follow its progress.
By signing up, you can receive relevant committee updates, hear about open meetings and webinars, and learn about opportunities to provide input, share resources, or connect with related efforts. This is a way to stay engaged with the Partnership at a level that works for you.
Sign up to follow an MRWP committee here.
You can select any of the eight committees that interest you, and you do not need to apply for committee membership to sign up for updates.
Help Build Connections Across the Watershed
Progress across the Mississippi River watershed depends on connecting the people and organizations already doing important work. Whether you are ready to serve on a committee or simply want to follow its work, your interest helps strengthen the network of partners working toward a healthier, more resilient watershed.
We hope you will join us!