Raise the Grade Action Agenda Released for Upper Mississippi River

Participants at the Raise the Grade event for the Upper Mississippi RiverThe Action Agenda developed from the Upper Mississippi River Raise the Grade Conference was released on December 16. The October conference brought together over 200 participants from 95 organizations to develop solutions to challenges identified in the 2015 America's Watershed Initiative Card for the Mississippi River watershed, in which the Upper Mississippi River basin received a C grade. The Action Agenda identified seven objectives that address ecosystem resilience, nutrient reduction, monitoring and assessment, watershed planning and management, transportation infrastructure, recreation opportunities, and hydropower. For each objective, specific actions were identified that can be acted upon quickly to support multiple goals.