News & Updates
Recent updates from America’s Watershed Initiative.
AWI Newsletter: July – September 2025
Catch up on an exciting season at America’s Watershed Initiative! From welcoming renewable energy leader Darren Van’t Hof to our Board, to connecting with partners in Baton Rouge and St. Charles, this season was all about collaboration and progress. We previewed NOAA’s new Mississippi River Basin Drought & Water Dashboard, shared insights at Smart Rivers 2025, and gathered nearly 200 participants for our Lunch and Learn series. Plus, we’re thrilled to welcome Jordyn Doty to the AWI team! Dive into the latest stories, events, and innovations shaping the future of the Mississippi River Basin.
August Workshop
America’s Watershed Initiative and The Nature Conservancy recently convened leaders from across the Mississippi River Watershed for the latest MRWP workshop. The gathering, held in St. Louis with a hybrid option for virtual participation, brought together over 60...
AWI Newsletter – April-June 2025
Catch up on a big season for America’s Watershed Initiative! From launching our Lunchtime Learning Series—bringing together hundreds of partners for powerful conversations—to welcoming a new board member, previewing cutting-edge drought tools, and celebrating the first-ever Mississippi River Day, there’s a lot to share. Explore the latest stories, insights, and ways to get involved in shaping the future of the Mississippi River Basin.
Mentoring the Next Generation of Watershed Leaders
AWI has welcomed two student interns for the spring semester from Xavier University of Louisiana. We are excited for the opportunity to help our interns grow their professional skills and passion for the Watershed in which they live. To learn more about our staff, click here.
AWI on the Road
Learn more about AWI Staff’s–Kim and Sierra–travels throughout the Upper Mississippi River Watershed.
Rowing Together: Rachel Orf to serve as Board Chair
Rachel Orf, Director of Environmental Stewardship at National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), to Serve as New Chairwoman of AWI
Building a Partnership to Last–MRWP January Workshop
AWI, in partnership with the Nature Conservancy, have continued to push ahead in the creation of the Mississippi River Partnership. Read more about the latest steps in building lasting impact.
Doug Oberhelman, Retired Caterpillar CEO and Executive Chairperson, joins AWI National Leadership Council
Please welcome Doug Oberhelman to the AWI National Leadership Council. We are delighted to add his expertise as former CEO of Caterpillar to the AWI family.
AWI Receives Funding to Highlight Nature-Based Solutions
America’s Watershed Initiative has begun to investigate techniques that will accelerate the use of nature-based solutions to address some of the challenges in the Mississippi River Watershed.