Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk

02/22/2025

Great environmental reporting through collaboration: this week in the newsletter, we highlight a story from Cassandra Stephenson of the Tennessee Lookout and Lucas Dufalla of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, who teamed up to cover a major ecosystem restoration project on the Lower Mississippi. Subscribe today.
https://agwaterdesk.bluelena.io/f/3

02/19/2025

Today, we’d like to introduce you to Ag & Water Desk reporter Illan Ireland, of the Mississippi Free Press in Jackson, Mississippi!

“The best part of covering the environment is you get to learn so much about people. You can’t really report on the environment without understanding the communities it impacts, and vice versa. What starts as a reporting project turns into getting to know people better, and that’s what excites me most.

Before this job, I didn’t fully realize just how much the Mississippi River Basin touches so many industries and regions, or how much it impacts daily life. Now, I get to explore those connections and find creative ways to tell these stories. It fuels my curiosity and gets me out in the field every day, meeting people and learning about the world around me.”

02/17/2025

The upper Mississippi River is freezing less than ever— with ice forming later, melting earlier, and covering less surface. On the border of Minnesota and Wisconsin, Lake Pepin’s records show ice now thaws 17 days sooner than in 1850.

By 2100, the river may only freeze near Minneapolis, disrupting ecosystems, recreation, and winter safety, though the shipping industry could benefit. Madeline Heim of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel explores how scientists are studying the impact of climate change on critical river ice.

The shrinking ice cover will change life for fish and birds, and will affect human recreation.

02/14/2025

In this week’s newsletter, reporter Jess Savage for WNIJ takes us inside the world of sphagnum moss—an often overlooked but powerful player in carbon storage and wetland health.

Sign up for our newsletter now to get in-depth environmental reporting straight to your inbox every Wednesday. Don’t miss a story! https://agwaterdesk.bluelena.io/f/3

02/12/2025

The Hatchie-Loosahatchie Mississippi River Ecosystem Restoration project would restore 39 miles of wetlands and floodplains, reconnecting habitats for endangered species and improving water quality. It’s the largest project of its kind in the history of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Memphis District.
But there are major hurdles–experts say funding could take decades. Learn more here: https://arktimes.com/arkansas-blog/2025/02/10/the-lower-mississippi-rivers-largest-ecosystem-restoration-project-got-the-federal-go-ahead-the-next-hurdle-funding

02/10/2025

Bogs are some of the most efficient carbon-storage systems on Earth—yet they are disappearing across the country. And with recent legal decisions stripping wetland protections, conservationists warn that the time to act is running out.

Read more from Jess Savage, WNIJ:

By Jess Savage, WNIJ Peat bogs sequester a massive amount of the earth's carbon dioxide. But even as scientistswork to better understand bogs' sequestration, the wetlands are under threat. On a cold winter afternoon, naturalist and educator Mary Colwell guided visitors on a chilly tourof the Volo Bo...

02/07/2025

This week’s newsletter dives into President Trump’s latest executive orders that affect agriculture and water policy across the Mississippi River Basin.
One of our Expert Journalists, Kristoffer Tigue of Inside Climate News, breaks down the legal battles over federal rollbacks of climate and clean energy initiatives.

Investigate Midwest’s Mónica Cordero shares new EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin’s background and the future of water policy.

Phillip Powell of the Arkansas Times explores how undercutting Inflation Reduction Act funding threatens more than half a billion dollars for energy and infrastructure projects in the state.

Read the latest from our reporters as they track the shifting landscape of environmental policy.

Stay informed—subscribe to our newsletter today.
https://agwaterdesk.bluelena.io/f/3

02/05/2025

Today we’d like to introduce you to Desk reporter Harshawn Ratanpal with KBIA.

“Hi, I’m Harshawn Rattanpal, and I work at KBIA in Columbia, Missouri. My beat focuses on environmental impact, and I'm passionate about helping people understand how the environment and agriculture affect their daily lives.

Even in urban areas, people are impacted by events, both large and small, that happen far away. Learning about these connections and sharing them with others is one thing I love about my work.

What I enjoy most about being a journalist is taking a deep dive into a topic and immersing myself in it. For a moment, nothing else matters but the story you’re chasing and the research you’re doing. And when one story wraps up, something even more fascinating is always just around the corner.”

As told by Engagement Editor Britny Cordera.

02/04/2025

We have some exciting news to share! The Ag & Water Desk has been awarded a$300,000 grant from the MacArthur Foundation, as part of a $6 million investment in climate journalism across the country.

These funds will help us further expand our coverage of water, agriculture and climate change throughout the basin, and we’re grateful for the support of our important mission.

The Desk has also received more than $120,000 in additional grants and funding over the last few months

02/03/2025

Today, we are excited to introduce you to Desk reporter Delaney Dryfoos from The Lens NOLA.

“Hi, I’m Delaney Dryfoos, a reporter with The Lens in New Orleans. Louisiana has so many pressing environmental stories to tell, and it’s been amazing to watch the Ag & Water Desk expand to include more lower basin reporters. Having expert journalists and mentors at WWNO and now a new reporter in Baton Rouge has been a game-changer. I’ve really appreciated the spirit of teamwork and collaboration this has brought to our work.
Louisiana faces a wide range of environmental challenges, from air pollution to disappearing coastlines, and it’s all tied to the Mississippi River. Being part of a network of colleagues who are tackling these issues together has been an incredible experience.

I’m particularly excited to continue exploring Louisiana’s sediment diversion projects, which aim to rebuild coastal land. These are long-term efforts, so the full impact won’t be visible for many years, but it’s fascinating to report on how the state is addressing land loss along the coast.

One of the best parts of being a journalist is that I get to learn something new every day. I get to meet people, and hear their stories: what inspires them, what concerns them, and transform those conversations into stories that can inform and engage the world.”

As told by Engagement Editor, Britny Cordera.

01/30/2025

This week’s Ag & Water Desk newsletter takes a deep dive into the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA)— legislation that shapes flood control, levee systems, and water infrastructure across the Mississippi River Basin. Reporters Madeline Heim at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Delaney Dryfoos of The Lens in New Orleans share a comprehensive breakdown for communities all along the river, and a bit about their reporting process.

Don’t miss out—subscribe today for essential environmental reporting in your inbox every week.

01/29/2025

Flood insurance premiums are soaring in Louisiana, forcing many to drop coverage or leave the state. Over 70,000 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies have been dropped since 2022, leaving vulnerable communities at greater risk. Read more from Elise Plunk at the Louisiana Illuminator.

Skyrocketing costs of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) coverage are spurring significant departure from the program.

01/25/2025

This week in our newsletter, a fascinating story by Harshawn Ratanpal from KBIA on Certified Naturally Grown, an alternative to USDA Organic that could help small farmers and conscious consumers alike.

We get a behind-the-scenes look at his reporting process, featuring a visit with CNG farmer Jennifer Duensing and her three CNG pigs in Illinois.
Subscribe to the Ag & Water Desk newsletter here:

01/25/2025

“Cancer is a leading health risk facing firefighters, largely due to the chemicals and carcinogens they are exposed to while on the job,” the Lavender Ribbon Report states.

01/24/2025

Mississippi Free Press reporter Illan Ireland’s piece on the revival of Mississippi oysters was picked up by Marketplace recently, and he had the opportunity to track it in their NYC studios. We love seeing our work reach national audiences, and our reporters get experiences like this!

Check out the story here:

Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spill and other disasters damaged Mississippi's oysters. The state spent $55 million restoring their reefs.

01/21/2025

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to tackle water resource challenges across the Mississippi River Basin.

This year’s WRDA package, signed Jan. 4, includes studies on flooding in the upper basin, flood mitigation measures across the system, ecological restoration, and a $6 billion floodwall in Louisiana.

Learn more about WRDA from Delaney Dryfoos at The Lens, and Madeline Heim at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. https://thelensnola.org/2025/01/17/latest-federal-water-resources-development-act-addresses-climate-extremes-and-flooding-along-the-mississippi-river/

01/15/2025

Exciting news! The Desk’s partner newsroom, Buffalo’s Fire, is hiring an experienced environmental reporter in collaboration with the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. This role offers the opportunity to cover various environmental topics impacting Indigenous communities in North Dakota and work on in-depth projects with our team. Learn more about this position and apply today:https://www.sej.org/sites/default/files/buffalos-fire-job-posting-dec2024.pdf

01/09/2025

Nature can repair itself, but the process of restoring stream complexity can take millennia. Mock beaver dams can jump-start the process, reducing the timing to mere decades. Learn more about beaver dam analogs, or BDAs, from Bennet Goldstein and Wisconsin Watch.

Beaver-inspired structures could limit flooding and benefit wildlife habitat, but state permitting is arduous.