I have represented the Big River Coalition on the Board of the America’s Watershed Initiative since the effort was first forming in 2011 and was excited to help shape the CHARTING THE COURSE FOR THE EVOLVING MISSISSIPPI RIVER WATERSHED webinar (complete details are reproduced below). The newly hired Executive Director for the America’s Watershed Initiative is longtime friend and colleague Mr. Frank Morton the Founder and Director of Turn Services.
The Great Flood of 2019 has created havoc for those that live along the banks of the Mighty Mississippi and her tributaries and wantonly complicated the lives of those that make a living amongst her powerful currents. As planning committees discussed the flood we focused on subject matter experts that had been engaged through other record and recent flood years, most notably 1973 and 2011.
The interactive webinar will feature discussion points from another old friend in Major General Michael J. Walsh, the retired former Deputy Commanding General Civil and Emergency Operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). Those along the Lower Mississippi River may remember General Walsh from his tenure as the Commanding General of the USACE’s Mississippi Valley Division in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Also featured is Mr. Steve Buan the Hydrologist in Charge at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) North Central River Forecast Center, Mr. Buan was a recipient of NOAA Administrator’s Award in 2016 . Navigation members along the Lower Mississippi River will also note that Mr. Jeff Graschel as the Service Coordination Hydrologist of the National Weather Service’s Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center both highly recommends Steve Buan and has agreed to provide him with information specific to the Lower Mississippi since he was not available on the dates chosen for the webinar.
Please add one of the scheduled webinar dates of June 25th and June 27th from 1400 to 1530 hours local Central Time to your calendar and register at the following link to attend one of the sessions.
AWI Webinar Registration Link:
Best Regards,
Sean
In just the first five months of 2019, the Mississippi River Watershed has experienced a record number of extreme weather and hydrologic events, including severe flooding, impacting its condition and productivity, as well as communities, economies, and ecosystems.
In the face of these circumstances, America’s Watershed Initiative will host an interactive webinar with leading experts Steve Buan, Hydrologist in Charge at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) North Central River Forecast Center, and Maj. General Michael Walsh (Ret.), former Deputy Commanding General Civil and Emergency Operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to examine and discuss:
- What historic flooding and extreme meteorological events mean for the Mississippi River Watershed now and in the future;
- How extreme weather and hydrologic events impact the health and state of the Mississippi River Watershed;
- How the dynamics and condition of the watershed have changed over the past 10 years; and
- What has been done – and still needs to be done – in the way of longer-term, comprehensive planning for the entire Mississippi River Watershed.
Webinar Registration
To register for the webinar, please visit:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/5263981586084729859.
About America’s Watershed Initiative
America’s Watershed Initiative is the collaborative organization that serves as a voice for the entire Mississippi River Watershed and works to chart an action plan for its future. In 2015, AWI released the Report Card for America’s Watershed, a comprehensive, data-based examination of the state of the Mississippi River Watershed. The Report Card serves as a roadmap for collaborative actions to improve the watershed.
Future Webinars
This America’s Watershed Initiative webinar is the first in a series exploring the Mississippi River Watershed and its challenges, opportunities, and impact on American life and the economy.
Future webinars will explore:
· The complexities of managing large-river systems for multiple purposes,
· The challenges of “making room for the river,”
· Efforts at the federal and state levels to maintain and support the Mississippi River Watershed, and
· Success stories and lessons learned.
