FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
Contact: Hannah Flath, hannahlee.flath@sierraclub.org, 860-634-0225
ALTON, IL. – Nearly all ten states that border the Mississippi River highlighted the health and community of the river through the Mississippi River Network’s second annual River Days of Action, and Illinois was no exception. Environmental and community organizations, as well as local businesses, hosted events in the Riverbend from June 7 to June 12 to celebrate and call attention to the importance of protecting the Mississippi River, which provides drinking water for 20 million Americans. The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois was proud to participate in the River Days of Action, and is committed to ongoing efforts to protect the Mississippi River through community events like our storm drain stenciling project and through critical advocacy work to pass the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) in Congress.
The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative, otherwise known as the MRRRI Act, was introduced by Missouri Congresswoman Betty McCollum in the House last summer. The Act would launch a coordinated federal effort to invest in building resilience to increased flooding and storms, improving water quality, restoring wildlife habitat, and stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species.
“It was great to see so many local organizations host events in the Alton area in celebration of the Mississippi River Network’s River Days of Action! Protecting and conserving the Mississippi River will take all of us, working together,” says Three Rivers Project co-Coordinator Christine Favilla. “The River Days of Action may have wrapped up, but our work to protect our great river through education and advocacy continues. The Three Rivers Project is continuing to host storm drain stenciling and other conservation activities this summer, alongside our advocacy efforts to fight for the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative.”
The Three Rivers Project joined community organizations and local businesses in amplifying the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative through several community events during last week’s River Days of Action. The following events called attention to the importance of preserving, protecting, and celebrating the Mississippi River:
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The Mississippi River Water Trail Association and KLife hosted “Kayak with KLife” at the Riverlands Audubon Center to teach young adults from St. Louis to safely kayak on the Mississippi River, a short distance from their neighborhood in north St. Louis. KLife is a successful mentoring program for young adults.
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The National Great River Research and Education Center hosted a River Tour, during which attendees experienced a combination of education and hands-on activities to learn about water quality and nutrient pollution monitoring.
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The Three Rivers Project of Sierra Club Illinois hosted several storm drain stenciling sessions throughout the week of River Days of Action in an effort to educate the public that storm sewers flow directly into our local waters. Volunteers use spray paint and stencils to mark storm drains with the message, “Keep ‘em Clean, Drains to River!” while also distributing educational door hangers to nearby homes and businesses to help make a visual connection between the newly stenciled drains and local water quality. This project is ongoing, and volunteers can pick up storm drain stenciling kits to participate in this project in the months to come by emailing Christine Favilla at christine.favilla@sierraclub.org.
“The coordinated efforts of environmental advocacy groups, community organizations, and businesses across ten states to participate in the Mississippi River Network’s River Days of Action last week proves a critical point: similar coordinated efforts are needed to ensure the river is protected, and those efforts must be enshrined in federal law,” says Sierra Club Illinois Director Jack Darin. “To preserve the integrity of the rivers and wetlands in this region, Congress must pass the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative.”