News & Updates
Recent updates from America’s Watershed Initiative.News & Updates
Recent updates from America’s Watershed Initiative.AWI Newsletter: July – September 2025
Mississippi River Partners Chart a Path Forward in St. Charles
America’s Watershed Initiative and The Nature Conservancy brought together leaders from across the Mississippi River Watershed for the latest Mississippi River Watershed Partnership (MRWP) workshop in August. The St. Charles gathering, drew over 60 participants, with a hybrid format enabling both in-person and virtual engagement.
Prioritizing Action Participants focused on advancing ten priority actions from the MRWP Goals and Actions list—steps identified as having the greatest potential for early progress based on an earlier partner survey. Working in small groups, attendees mapped out implementation roadmaps by identifying data and resource needs and explored opportunities for coordination across geographies and sectors.
Building a Sustainable Organization Structure The workshop also advances discussions from January’s workshop about creating a lasting structure for the partnership. Participants explored models for governance, leadership role and committee functions, and approaches to ensure that the MRWP can both guide and support meaningful on-the-ground action.
👋 Welcome Our Newest Board Member!
Meet Darren Van’t Hof – Renewable Energy Finance Leader
We’re thrilled to welcome Darren Van’t Hof of St. Louis, Missouri, to our Board of Directors. As founder and principal of Oakland Capital Solutions, Darren brings deep expertise in renewable energy investment and strategic planning.
His renewable journey: Darren spent over 20 years at U.S. Bank, where he built one of the nation’s largest renewable energy investing platforms and pioneered financing structures for solar, wind, and storage. He now serves as Chairman of the Board of the Solar Energy Industry Association.
His roots: Growing up in Rock Rapids, Iowa, Darren developed a love for the outdoors along the Rock River and on his family’s farmland—experiences that continue to inspire his commitment to conservation.
When he’s not shaping the future of clean energy, Darren enjoys time outdoors and with his wife of 35 years and their two adult children.
AWI Takes the Stage at Smart Rivers 2025
AWI was well represented at Smart Rivers 2025, a premier international conference, supported by PIANC USA, that brings together more than 300 global leaders to share innovations in inland waterway systems. This year’s event, held in Memphis, focused on advancing collaboration for
resilient river systems.
Kim Lutz, AWI’s Executive Director, spoke on a panel on sharing the river, emphasizing that sustainable waterway management depends on collaboration among farmers, barge operators,
conservationists, industry leaders, and recreational users alike.
Two members of AWI’s National Advisory Council also played leading roles: Dr. Norma Jean Mattei served as a keynote speaker, and Dr. Craig Philip, Vanderbilt University professor, led a panel on managing disruption in the inland waterway system, underscoring how collaboration and preparedness are essential for navigating challenges that affect both commerce and communities along the river.
AWI Connects with River Road Champions in Baton Rouge
Earlier this month, AWI was honored to participate in the Mississippi River Parkway Commission’s (MRPC) Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge, September 10–12, 2025. Kim Lutz, AWI’s Executive Director, introduced members to AWI and shared opportunities for future partnership in support of the Mississippi River and the communities along it.
The MRPC is a nonprofit organization, created in 1938, that stewards the Great River Road National Scenic Byway. Stretching 3,000 miles across 10 states, the Great River Road is the nation’s longest and among its oldest scenic byways. The Commission works to preserve and enhance the Mississippi River Valley’s natural resources, cultural heritage, scenic quality, recreational opportunities, and economic vitality.
Commissioners from all 10 Great River Road states attended the meeting. Key topics included celebrating the Great River Road’s selection as the Best Scenic Drive in America in this year’s USA Today 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and discussing upcoming plans to mark the nation’s 250th birthday (America250) in 2025 and 2026.
AWI looks forward to continued collaboration with MRPC and its members to strengthen the connection between communities, conservation, and the Mississippi River.
Feeding Curiosity: AWI Lunch and Learn Highlights
This quarter, nearly 200 people tuned into our Lunch and Learn webinars!
If you missed out, you can find the recordings on our YouTube or on our website’s Webinar Library.
July
In a Changing Climate: The Need for Comprehensive Hydrologic and Water Quality Monitoring in the Mississippi River Watershed
Larry Weber, director of Hydroscience & Engineering at the University of Iowa, discussed the need for hydrologic and water quality monitoring data across the Watershed.
Watch here
August
Projecting Climate-induced Changes in River Discharge and Water Temperature Across the Mississippi River Watershed
Jason Knouft, director of Freshwater Policy Institute at NGRREC, discussed model predictions for water temperature and river discharge changes in the Watershed.
Watch here
September
The Role of Endangered Pallid Sturgeon in Missouri River Recovery
Dr. Robert Jacobson, adjunct professor at the University of Missouri School of Natural Resources and former USGS research scientist, focused on advancing Missouri River conservation by shifting from pallid sturgeon–driven management toward flood-risk reduction, with species recovery as a secondary benefit.
Watch here
Making Our Case: AWI Testimony to the Mississippi River Commission
AWI Project Coordinator Sierra Schuchard and AWI Board Member Dr. Barb Kleiss provided testimony to the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) during its annual Low-Water Inspection Tour. Sierra was joined by AWI Board Chair Rachel Orf in representing our organization.
Established in 1879, the MRC is a federal agency that provides engineering direction and policy advice for the sustainable management of the Mississippi River. Its mission centers on flood control, navigation, and environmental stewardship—ensuring the river continues to support commerce, communities, and ecosystems. The Commission conducts regular inspection trips and public hearings, creating opportunities for dialogue with stakeholders across the basin.
In their testimony, Sierra and Barb emphasized the importance of collaboration across the watershed and highlighted AWI’s role in advancing both an economically strong and environmentally healthy Mississippi River.
We are grateful to the Commission for the opportunity to share these perspectives, and to the many partners who help make this forum a powerful space for shaping the future of the river each year.
Partners Preview New Mississippi River Basin Drought & Water Dashboard
AWI had the opportunity to host a preview of NOAA’s new Mississippi River Basin Drought & Water Dashboard. Because of the size and diversity of the Mississippi River Watershed Partnership, NOAA asked AWI to bring partners together so they could be the first to see the tool and share suggestions before the public rollout. More than 60 partner organizations have helped shape this important resource along the way.
Created by NOAA’s National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), the dashboard makes it easier to track river conditions, drought impacts, and forecasts across the basin. It’s designed to support resilience for sectors that depend on the river, such as navigation, agriculture, recreation, conservation, and more.
Some of the things the tool can do:
● Show current river stage and forecasts for the entire watershed in one view.
● Provide interactive maps to explore how transportation, agriculture, recreation, and the environment could be impacted by changing conditions.
● Offer insights on drought impacts to help users better understand risks to economic and ecological resources.
As AWI Executive Director Kim Lutz shared: “This easy-to-use tool will help users across sectors better understand drought impacts on these vital economic resources for our watershed and nation.”
Welcome Jordyn Doty to the AWI Team!
We are excited to welcome Jordyn Doty as AWI’s new Communications and Operations Associate. Jordyn is a recent graduate of George Washington University, and she also brings hands-on communications experience from internships with Van Scoyoc Associates, a D.C. based lobbying firm.
Her skills and enthusiasm will be a great asset as AWI continues to build partnerships and advance an economically and environmentally healthy Mississippi River.
America’s Watershed Initiative is building a future where science guides decisions and collaboration drives results. Join us in protecting and celebrating the Mississippi River Basin. Visit https://americaswatershed.org/