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18th Public Meeting of the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force
September 24th
Des Moines, Iowa
On September 24, 2009, the Task Force held its 18th Annual Meeting in Des Moines, Iowa. The level of energy at the meeting was high, particularly in light of several decisions and announcements made. Attendance at the meeting was excellent, with almost all of the Task Force agencies represented, as well as a diverse and interested audience. In the opening remarks, each member of the Task Force presented his or her interest in and commitment to reducing nutrient pollution in the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin.
One of the highlights of the meeting occurred when U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced in a taped message a new initiative to improve the water quality and overall health of the Basin with $320 million distributed over four years to projects in 12 Mississippi and Ohio River states through the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
- Watch Tom Vislack announce the new initiative.
- Learn more about the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI)
Six comprehensive nutrient reduction proposals were presented to the Task Force in an effort to build partnerships and provide support for specific needs throughout the Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin. The proposals advocate the use of advanced tools and technologies, as well as collaborative decision-making to address the eleven actions outlined in the Gulf Hypoxia Action Plan.
- View a summary of the proposals (PDF) (2 pp, 100K)
Other presentations included the announcement by the Nutrients Innovations Task Group of the official release of its recent report on nutrient sources and impacts. The Environmental Working Group also provided insight into the need to reduce nutrient pollution in the Basin.
The Task Force welcomed a new representative into its membership: the Tribes. Their participation is vital at a time when partnership-building and leveraging of resources is critical to forward progress.
Thanks go out to the organizations in Iowa and elsewhere that made this 18th meeting possible. Although a specific date has not yet been determined, Mississippi has graciously offered to serve as the host for the next Task Force meeting in the fall of 2010.
Task Force members at the 18th public meeting
Public Meeting Agenda
18th Public Meeting Agenda (PDF) (2 pp, 219K)
Power Point Presentations
Ann Mills
Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI) (PDF) (11 pp, 406K)
Skip Hyberg
Farmable Wetlands & Conservation Reserve Enhancement Programs (PDF) (5 pp, 23K)
Peter Tennant
Potential Tools to Reduce Gulf Hypoxia: Market Based Incentives (PDF) (4 pp, 396K)
Richard Ingram
Mississippi's Leveraged Approach to Reduce Nutrient Pollution and Its Impacts In-Basin and to the Gulf of Mexico (PDF) (8 pp, 403K)
Keith Ouchley
Nutrient and Sediment Reduction through Floodplain Restoration (PDF) (11 pp, 2.1Mb)
Jane Watson
Beneficial Use of Dredged Material in Coastal Louisiana: For Wetland Creation/Restoration and Nutrient Removal (PDF) (8 pp, 358K)
Darrell Brown
2009 Annual Report and 2010 Annual Operating Plan (PDf) (2 pp, 94K)
Ephraim King
An Urgent Call to Action: Report of the Nutrient Innovations Task Group (PDF) (12 pp, 1.1Mb)
Craig Cox
Mississippi River Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient Task Force (PDF) (7 pp, 665K)
Transcription of Public Comments
Download a copy of the transcription of public comments (PDF) (12 pp, 133K)