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Mississippi River Watershed Report Card Copyright 2014 City of Dubuque Consent Items # 7. ITEM TITLE: Mississippi River Watershed Report Card SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting information from America's Watershed Initiative regarding the Mississippi River watershed. SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File ATTACHMENTS: Description Type ❑ Mississippi River Watershed Report Card Supporting Documentation WK- Mississippi River Watershed Report Card D+ 0 F,P'S\ON fCps YS �-�I U F 2� qq ti A �y A O NO 44 86 py X q�r xo O "� m rl p W �, doU SUPP[V PNSe OP W W (R The Mississippi River Watershed IS America's Watershed The fourth largest watershed in the world, the Mississippi miles of rivers and streams,thousands of communities and River Watershed carries the waters from the Rocky millions of people make this watershed Americas Watershed. Mountains in the west, the north woods of Minnesota and America's history, America's environment, America's the Appalachian mountains in the east, down to the delta prosperity and America's future depend on the waters that wetlands in Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico.Thousands of flow though our heartland rivers. We are America's America's Watershed provides Progress in the America's Watershed Initiative benefits for people and nature Watershed Initiative goals America's Watershed Initiative is a America's Watershed is vast. It encompasses The Report Card measured six broad goals collaboration working with hundreds all or part of 31 U.S. States and two for America's Watershed—Ecosystems, of business, government, academic, Canadian provinces.The rivers in America's Flood Control& Risk Reduction, and civic organizations to find solutions Watershed provide drinking water for Transportation, Water Supply, Economy, for the challenges of managing the millions of people. Water flowing in these and Recreation.The Report Card indicates Mississippi River and the more than 250 rivers is used to produce more than half how well we are currently meeting each rivers that flow into it. Only by working of America's goods and services, including one of these goals, using real data and together—coordinated, focused and for agricultural products worth more than $50 relevant information that was identified by the long term—will we make meaningful billion annually, and much of America's experts in these fields. Over time, as we progress to raise the grades for America's energy production, including nearly 25% of adapt our management strategies for the Watershed, for our future, and for our our nation's hydropower.The transportation Mississippi River Watershed, the Report children's future. network in America's Watershed moves Card can track our progress in achieving millions of tons of goods safely, reliably, and our objectives. efficiently, generating billions in economic benefit.And the system's rivers and wetlands provide unique wildlife, habitat and recreational opportunities. B a 9 to _ The Report Card was built in the five basins The Report Card team worked with experts in a multi-year process River Basin, and the Missouri River Basin. Data was analyzed and to analyze data and provide grades for the six goals in each of the grades assigned for each basin and for the entire watershed. main basins that make up the Mississippi River Watershed—the Not surprisingly, grades for several goals showed consistency Upper Mississippi River Basin,the Lower Mississippi River Basin, throughout the watershed, and some showed significant variety the Ohio River&Tennessee River Basin, the Arkansas River& Red reflecting the diversity of the watershed. Upper Mississippi River basin 000 Missouri River basin 0 0 000 0 0 0 le iihio�� C Ohio Rayer& River basin C© 000 At Riverr & Red Riva orsin �� 0 0 r) O ®. O O Lower Mississippi River1 basin O LD O O The Report Card reveals challenges ahead The Mississippi River Watershed Report Card conveys many intense weather events, suggesting that failures could be more inherent challenges in managing the watershed for the six broad frequent and costly. goals of America's Watershed Initiative. Pressures on these goals will likely increase in coming decades, as demands for water Connected goals require coordinated increase, Infrastructure ages, and our climate changes. management The region faces interconnected challenges The six goals identified by America's Watershed Initiative are as highly interconnected as the challenges facing the watershed. Regional changes from economic growth, land development, Decisions affecting one goal will impact the others, but we don't and changes in weather will add pressure to already stressed need to advance one goal at the expense of others. Management infrastructure and natural resources. Clean water for habitat, of the Mississippi River Watershed to meet Its challenges requires water supplies, and recreation impacted by pollution will continue a mindset of opportunity—a coordinated approach that integrates to be under pressure due to increased demands on the watershed multiple stakeholder needs, instead of an approach that advocates from population growth,agriculture,transportation, and land for single objectives independently. development. Groundwater supplies already in decline by overuse will be further affected by increases in irrigation and more severe droughts. Locks and dams already in weakened condition from maintenance funding shortfalls will be stressed further by more Mississippi Watershed Results ECOSYS TF Q a O i �S • . � shy�n v° m rn xFyFaw ¢a ®Ecosystems eeo C' t�aca ®Flood Control & >, Risk Reduction 'R/venye � - f ®Transportation > ernPlOjrnentn _ �lwp z ® li Fp Water Supply Z Median . . - An income , , 00 O OZ ®Economy Wr -�rh-1 Bur/ '17 yX 1DRRy sector o/evaVon 1 O O eRecreation $ A®od B Good C Moderate �O �q D Poor q s �t � F Very poor !/ gQ0 No data pj0<y Watershed-wide indicators The Mississippi River Watershed can and must do better The Mississippi River is the backbone of America. Our economy and The Mississippi River Watershed has diminished as a healthy and the future of our country depend on sustaining a healthy, functioning sustaining water resource over the last several decades. To raise the watershed. Overall the Mississippi River Watershed earned a D+, grade, we need integrated management to reflect the relationships a poor result.The grades reveal a number of challenges—the between the different goals and basins, and increased participation Transportation and Flood Control & Risk Reduction goal areas, and by partners and stakeholders working together on specific actions to the watershed-wide indicators for Coastal Wetlands Loss and the improve the watershed. Hypoxic "Dead Zone" in the Gulf of Mexico all received D scores. The Mississippi River Watershed is a world-class asset to our nation, The Report Card results demonstrate that we are underinvesting and we need to significantly improve information and management to meet the six goals for the Mississippi River Watershed. Our systems to make more informed and efficient decisions to improve current trajectory is unsustainable and we must work together to its condition. dramatically raise the grade for most of the goals. Realistic,timely and innovative funding and collaborative actions must be pursued and implemented. Goals and indicators used in Americ America's Watershed Initiative(AWI)worked with a variety of river users and stakeholders to identify six broad goals for the Mississippi River Watershed. GOALS ® GOAL: Ecosystems Water quality Living resources Support and enhance healthy and productive Nutrient(nitrogen and Condition of aquatic animal ecosystems phosphorus)levels in rivers and communities living in the The Report Card measured ecosystem condition in rivers streams in the watershed, ecosystem. and streams, and the effectiveness of wetland restoration and protection. Analysis shows more variability than any Streamside habitat Wetland area change other goal—some areas show positive changes while Condition of stream and river Percent change in wetland area others have significant challenges.The industrialized habitat in the ecosystem. in each basin. eastern portion of the watershed and the Lower Mississippi River show the greatest adverse impacts to living resources. Poor water quality is a result of high nutrient concentrations In agricultural and industrial parts of the watershed, and this is a contributing factor to the low oxygen, "dead zone' zone in the Gulf of Mexico. ® GOAL: Flood control and risk reduction Floodplain population change Levee condition Provide reliable flood control and risk reduction Change in number of people Status of levees inspected by the The Report Card measured trends in the number living in areas most at risk U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. of people at risk, the condition of flood protection for flooding compared 10 the infrastructure, and community preparedness.The results change in number of people �. are poor, especially because people continue to move into living in a basin. the floodplain. Risks from severe river floods are highest in the eastern portion of the watershed and along the Building elevation Lower Mississippi River,although intensive investment in flood control Community adoption of infrastructure avoided huge losses from the record flood in 2011. requirements to elevate structures above mapped flood levels. ® GOAL:Transportation Infrastructure condition Infrastructure maintenance Serve as the nation's most valuable river Condition of critical Adequacy of maintenance transportation corridor infrastructure at locks and dams. funding for navigation The Report Card evaluated transportation system infrastructure on a pass/fail basis, performance, the condition of locks and dams,and the funding for maintenance for the inland navigation system. Locks and dams are in poor condition across Lock delays the Mississippi River basin, and a lack of funding for Amount of time in 2013 that infrastructure maintenance means that multiple failures may be locks in a basin were unavailable imminent. River transportation currently functions with some delays, compared to the best- but as these systems continue to deteriorate, catastrophic failures performing year between 2000 resulting in severe economic, public safety,and water security and 2012. problems can be expected to occur. s ,AY xnxxoo U.AR-Toy. �T.,,. EEv RoBiRT i. roan oakoti,a—RIAN a's Watershed Initiative Report Care The goals are the key foundation for the Report Card. Indicators were identified for each goal using feedback from stakeholders at the basin workshops. GOALS • • OGOAL: Water supply Treatment violations Water depletion Maintain supply of abundant; clean water Percent of the population served Water use compared to The Report Card assessed the safety of municipal by community water systems the total amount of water water supplies and available quantity and quality of that did not report any violations naturally available from surface water across the watershed.As expected, in 2013. precipitation and stream flow scores show that less water is available in the west, (minus losses from natural which receives significantly less rainfall than the evaporation). eastern portion of the watershed. Even where water is abundant, however, municipal water supply systems are not performing well.A disappointing finding is that key information is lacking on the status of groundwater resources and the suitability of surface waters for designated uses. GOAL: Economy GDP by sector Median income Support local, state, and national economies Gross domestic product(GDP) 2013 per capita income The Report Card graded watershed basins against the for river-dependent industries in by state compared to the rest of the nation using statistics on per capita income, each state for 2013 compared to national average. ® employment, and productivity in river related sectors the national average. of the economy. Results reflect general economic conditions nationwide and differ only slightly between basins. Additional data is required to better analyze the economy directly tied to watershed and river management. River-dependent employment The Mississippi River basin exports water in various ways(through Number of people employed in crops and products)that tend to support economic development river-dependent sectors in each elsewhere to a greater extent than within the basin. As water state in 2013 compared to the stress increases,greater pressures will be placed on this resource, national average. with potentially harmful economic effects. ® GOAL: Recreation Hunting and fishing licenses Outdoor participation Provide world-class recreational opportunities Recent sales of licenses, tags, Recent hunting,fishing,and The Report Card graded the number of people stamps, and permits for hunting binding activity and national participating in various outdoor recreational activities. and fishing compared to the 10- park visitation compared to C The rivers and streams of the Mississippi River basin year historical range. the 20-year historical range. provide many opportunities for recreation,with positive economic impacts. However, participation in most areas is at or below the recent past. Much more needs to be done to support current and emerging recreational opportunities through effective management of natural resources. Additional information is also needed to evaluate some recreational uses. Watershed-wide indicators Coastal wetlands change Gulf"deadzone°size The Report Card also included indicators that are Coastal wetlands have been lost For the last five years,the size relevant to review at the scale of the whole watershed, every year since measures began of the hypoxic zone has not including wetland area change in the Mississippi River in 1932.The rate of wetland decreased towards the Hypoxia delta and the annual area of low oxygen water(a.k.a,.the hypoxic loss is declining, but with Task Force target. Reducing zone or "dead zone")that forms in the northern Gulf of Mexico land subsidence and sea level the size of the hypoxic zone south of the River's mouth, rise accelerating, much more will require reduction of effort will be needed to reverse nutrients from multiple sources wetland loss. throughout the watershed. Working together for the watershed America's Watershed Initiative has worked with leaders, stakeholders, and experts from more than 400 businesses, organizations,agencies, and academic institutions to develop 27 ORGANIZATIONS the Report Card. The goal for the Report Card is simple—provide decision-makers,watershed leaders, and the public with easy-to-understand information about the state of the watershed's health 22 BUSINESSES to aid them in developing a collaborative approach to managing America's Watershed. From the start, the groups working together to support America's Watershed Initiative had three key goals for the Report Card project: 22% FEDERAL AGENCIES • Bring together key leaders,stakeholders, and experts representing all of the basins and sectors to develop a single and shared document to measure the STATE AND current status of six broad goals for the watershed; 16% LOCAL AGENCIES • Build a Report Card supported by data that will help us to identify successes, opportunities for improvement, and areas needing additional research; 13% ACADEMIA • Use this tool to identify opportunities for collaboration and to build a shared vision for the watershed. Sectors and organizations participated in Report w The Report Card team traveled to every Card haein orkshops, basin and to Washington, D.C.for more than a dozen major workshops, meetings, and summits paired with webinars to bring together diverse experts with broad r - - perspectives to develop the Report Card. - While each workshop and meeting was different,the importance of the rivers i and waters to every sector and in each basin was clear. Significant feedback was received after sharing the Preliminary Report Card Fall 2014 and from additional expert review teams formed to improve the preliminary results.This final Report Card is built upon this feedback and engagement. k In addition to the grades for the six y - goals and information about each ofthe basins, the project also includes - additional reports, analysis, and - background information about data .., sources and methodology shared on ! - � . '- 'e- - America's Watershed Initiative website in technical papers and other documents. (AmericasWatershed.org/ReportCard) workshop participant,identify resources and threats in the Mississippi River watershed as they reline to the six goals. Image courtesy ofA.Freyermuth. The Report Card is not a goal unto itself—it's a tool to bring together leaders from around the Mississippi River Watershed to develop a shared vision for the future and create awareness about the opportunities and challenges that face our states and nation. This shared vision will be used to identify and form partnerships to advance solutions to these critical water management challenges. Knowing what's important and how to measure it is the foundation to improve the watershed. For more information on America's Watershed Initiative Report Card and the Report Card development process, visit AmericasWatershed.org/ReportCard We must work together to scale up solutions for improving water quality and quantity, safety, and the health of America's Watershed so that we advance in the 21st century • Advocate for$1 billion annually in new public and private stakeholders are engaged at a watershed scale in setting investment to ensure that America's Watershed continues to goals based on best available information. drive our national economy, and protect the livelihoods and environments of future generations. Recognize and support local leaders who develop and implement solutions and invite their continuing participation • Encourage greater collaboration and improved information as partners. The longer we wait to invest in raising the to better manage an increasingly complex system for grade, the more it will cost us and future generations. multiple benefits. We support a more transparent, integrated approach for decision-making, where America's Watershed Initiative is committed to Raise the Grade in America's Watershed Spread the word Focus on action We are communicating the results of the Report Card widely with We will develop and work to advance a coordinated and shared business, political, and media leaders in all basins throughout the action agenda to raise the grade in the Mississippi River Watershed. watershed.The Report Card is a tool to communicate the status We will work together to achieve a collective impact from strategic of six broad goals for our nation's most important watershed.The investments in the watershed, and we'll work together to improve results reveal that our current trajectory is unsustainable.We will use decision-making and leverage the great efforts undertaken by many the Report Card to continue our efforts to build a shared voice to groups in the watershed. improve the future of the Mississippi River Watershed. We will release Together we will raise the grade! additional reports based on the data in the Report Card,and we will seek partners to continue the analysis in the Report Card in greater detail in the basins and for specific goals. Help spread the word! Grow the collaboration We will recruit additional partners to strengthen the collaboration to raise the grades for the Mississippi River Watershed.We will seek leaders from all the basins and goal areas to ensure that the ( -•- I - _y collaboration Is strong and diverse.We want to grow America's _- y/ . ,. iii��� �Watershed lnitiativeto include voices committed to finding �m�a fl collaborative solutions to watershed Challenges. Join us! Attendees at the America's Watershed Initiative Summit in Louisville, Kentucky,in 2014. Image courtesy olJ. Harrod. Support Developing a comprehensive watershed the Report Cad for the Monssippi River Watershed has been demlopM warn the foundational Financial support for Americas Watershed Initiative tram the Caterpillar Foundation,The MclungM Foundation,Ingram Barge company and The NeWre Conservancy. Report Card is an important component We also want To thank the many other financial supporters of the AW12014Summp where the PREUMINAR'report cedwas of America's Watershed Initiative. It released for feedback. will help the public and policy-makers AWI Steering Committee Report Card team get Information about the status and Do Bunch,Upper Mississippi River Basin Association Charles Somerville(Ohio River Basin ABiaoces Rainy Shorey trends in achieving objectives for six Nancy DRLoog,DUPom orl (CaterpillaR Inc).All Dennison,lane Thomas,Caroline broad management goals. Results from Sean Duffy Sr.,Big River Coalition Donovan,lane Hawkey,Heath Kelsey,Bill Nuttle,Brianne the Report Card will he a Stephen Gambrel,U.S.Army Corps of Engineers Walsh(University of Maryland Center for Environmental P Pdevelop Ted Goodmann,City of Dubuque,Iowa Science),Jonathan Biggins(The Nature Conservancy),Harald roadmap for Collaborative actions t0 Sue Lowry,State of Wyoming,Upper Missouri Basin (Iody)Jodahl(Americas Watershed Initiative). Improve the 31-State Mississippi River Steve Mathies,PhD,Lower Mississippi River Basin Watershed and encourage people Daniel Rash, Misnborg,Ingram Barge Company 'I'he� ature L 9 P P Rob Rash,Mississippi Valley Flood Control As50ciation 1�I and organizations to engage In Issues Michael Rome,The Nature Coo servaor, Conservancy affecting the watershed. Rainy Shorey,PhD,Caterpillar,Inc. Charles Somerville,PhD,Ohio River Basin Alliance Max Starbuck,National Corn Growers Association InrcdmUioro vaAvocurI sen, rM mnre,,ma r:u>: ��. 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