Ron Kind: “Today I am introducing an important bill aimed at reducing sediment and nutrient losses in the Upper Mississippi River…”

“Today I am introducing an important bill aimed at reducing sediment and nutrient losses in the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Over the last 6 months, I have worked closely with many of my colleagues here in the House, farmers, the navigation industry, sporting groups, conservation groups, and government agencies, to come up with an effective, basin-wide, and non-regulatory approach to dealing with this increasingly serious problem in our Nation's heartland. Why is this important? Run-off from the land represents one of the greatest environmental threats to the Mississippi River. Huge quantities of sediment and nutrients flow into the river, filling in backwaters, degrading the wetland habitat on the river, and cutting off vital lifelines for a wide variety of wildlife. The Upper Mississippi River Basin is North America's largest migratory route, with more than 40 percent of the waterfowl using this area as a flyway. Ongoing habitat loss and degradation threatens the river's $1.2 billion recreation and $6.6 billion tourism industry, and the river is the primary water drinking source for over 22 million Americans.”