AWI on The Road

Iowa, Wisconsin, & Minnesota:

AWI Executive Director Kim Lutz traversed the Upper Mississippi in March, visiting Board Members, partners, and supporters throughout the region. Her first stop, the Iowa Soybean Association to learn about the Research Center for Farming Innovation (RCFI) and their work in leading the implementation and execution of conservation programs. What a wonderful opportunity to learn of the work of such an impactful partner!

From there, she traveled to Cedar Rapids to learn about the city’s innovative efforts on both water quality and water quantity, particularly in addressing the devastating floods that impacted the area in 2019. After meeting with Board members in Iowa City and Dubuque, Kim embarked on a scenic drive along the Great River Road, passing through rolling hills and farmland. As she neared La Crosse, Wisconsin, the stunning views of the river valley below made the journey even more memorable.

In La Crosse, Kim presented the work of the Mississippi River Watershed Partnership to more than 200 partners at the annual Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee (UMRCC) Meeting. UMRCC, which includes natural resource managers from the five upper basin states (Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Wisconsin), was established in 1943 to coordinate the preservation and sustainable use of the Upper Mississippi River’s natural and recreational resources, promoting resource management through cooperative surveys, studies, and communication. Kim also had the opportunity to tour the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC). UMESC is a key research hub focused on freshwater ecosystems, particularly those related to the Mississippi River and its surrounding areas. The center provides valuable data and scientific insights to help guide conservation, management, and policy decisions at the local, state, and national levels.

From La Crosse, Kim continued her journey along the river to St. Paul, where she met with additional partners and supporters. If you haven’t had the chance to make this spectacular 250-mile journey, be sure to add it to your list—it’s truly one of the most beautiful drives in the United States!

Missouri:

AWI’s project coordinator, Sierra Schuchard was delighted to be invited to present at the Missouri River Natural Resources Committee meeting, where participants explored conservation efforts along the Missouri River. Attendees had the opportunity to learn about and see the work of multiple partners during the field trip. Along a ten mile stretch of the Missouri River outside Columbia participants were able to see the work of many partners including federal agencies, a state agency, local government, and NGOs and how their efforts combined are contributing to the health of the river and access for recreation and education. The gathering focused on fish and wildlife habitat within the Missouri River basin, bringing together experts in this field to discuss ongoing research. 

At the St. Louis University Water Summit, Sierra participated on a panel focused on the impact policy in advancing nature-based solutions (NBS) and their role in addressing water-related challenges. Sierra highlighted the ten key policy levers identified through AWI’s recent research on incentives and disincentives to NBS in 2024. The summit also featured a keynote speech by Dr. Todd Bridges, who provided valuable insight into the evolution of NBS and shared his experiences working in this field. His presentation underscored the growing importance of integrating nature-based approaches into water management and conservation strategies.

Attendees also had an opportunity to learn of the important work of the Mississippi River Watershed Partnership. Sierra was able to educate attendees on how AWI’s partnership work has begun to take form, sharing insights on how our partners are co-creating the organizational structure and discussing the best course of action of stewarding America’s great Watershed.