waterloop: exploring solutions

The Mississippi River is essential to global agriculture and trade, but it is increasingly vulnerable to climate impacts, including severe droughts and floods, resulting in significant economic and environmental challenges.

Colin Wellenkamp, Executive Director of the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI), discusses how the coalition is advancing nature-based solutions to build resilience along the river.

One notable example is Horseshoe Lake in East St. Louis, a community historically impacted by recurrent flooding and economic disadvantage. Restoration efforts there aim to reduce flood risks by enhancing natural floodplains, providing critical protection for residents and supporting biodiversity.

This initiative is part of MRCTI’s broader push to implement projects across 100,000 acres in eight states by the end of the decade, creating sustainable landscapes that safeguard both people and ecosystems in the face of a changing climate.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

The ever-changing nature of the Mississippi River poses significant challenges for those living behind the levee at Dogtooth Bend in southern Illinois, where increased flooding and infrastructure strain can impact everyday existence.

A promising solution involves nature-based strategies that restore floodplains to better manage water flow and reduce flood risk.

Tharran Hobson of The Nature Conservancy shares insights into collaborative efforts with NRCS and the Army Corps of Engineers to support landowners and implement natural infrastructure, such as reforestation, to slow water and prevent the formation of new river channels.

The work at Dogtooth Bend underscores the need to balance human life with ecological resilience in flood-prone regions.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

Las Vegas faces unique challenges as a rapidly growing city with a small share of water from the Colorado River and an arid desert climate. To meet the demands of residents and 40 million annual visitors, Las Vegas implemented comprehensive approaches to sustainability that drove water usage down even as the population boomed.

Bronson Mack of the Southern Nevada Water Authority and Michael Gulich of MGM Resorts International share their insights on water recycling, conservation programs, and efficiency measures. Key initiatives include community-wide water reuse, incentivizing native landscaping, and phasing out evaporative cooling systems in new developments.

Also discussed are MGM’s sustainability efforts at resorts, the Bellagio Fountain’s water-efficient design, and partnerships that drive change. Through progressive planning and community engagement, Las Vegas serves as a model for efficient water management in the American West.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.

The federal government's historic investment in water infrastructure has presented both opportunities and challenges.

The solution lies in efficiently distributing funds, overcoming barriers like permitting and regulatory requirements, and accelerating the pace of project implementation.

In this episode, Tim Male, Executive Director of the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, discusses the complexities of rolling out billions in federal funding and the hurdles still in place.

He highlights the need for technical assistance, environmental finance centers, and better systems to ensure long-term success. Topics also include the urgency of lead pipe replacement, regionalization of utilities, and leveraging nature-based solutions for watershed management.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from a conversation at the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., where waterloop is a media partner.

Communities across the country are disproportionately impacted by environmental injustices like water pollution and inadequate infrastructure.

The solution requires not only winning court battles but also building long-term, collaborative relationships with those affected on the ground.

In this episode, Julian Gonzalez, Senior Legislative Counsel of Earthjustice, shares insights into how the organization uses legal expertise and partnerships to protect vulnerable communities.

He highlights Earthjustice’s evolution from primarily representing large environmental groups to working closely with local communities, tribal nations, and grassroots organizations.

Julian discusses the importance of trust-building, listening without judgment, and ensuring that legal victories translate into real-world change.

This episode is part of the Color of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub.

Wetlands along the Mississippi River have been disappearing for decades, leading to increased flooding and degradation of water quality, as well as loss of wildlife habitat.

Nature-based solutions, like wetland restoration and floodplain reconnection, offer a path to address these challenges plus provide benefits for communities and commerce.

In this episode, Karen Waldrop, Chief Conservation Officer, and Ellen Herbert, Senior Scientist, from Ducks Unlimited, share their organization's science-driven approach to protecting and restoring critical habitats for waterfowl.

They discuss the importance of partnerships and how Ducks Unlimited uses engineering alongside nature to improve ecosystems. Also highlighted is a new program with the University of Georgia to build a workforce of engineers to advance nature-based solutions.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

Memphis faces the dual challenge of protecting itself from Mississippi River flooding while enhancing the environment and public spaces.

The solution lies in nature-based projects that manage stormwater, restore wetlands, and provide community amenities.

In this episode Carol Coletta of Memphis River Parks Partnership and Jake Spears of Ducks Unlimited discuss two transformative riverfront projects on either side of the river. Tom Lee Park, on the Tennessee side, offers stormwater management, flood resilience, and recreation, while a 1,500-acre park across the river in Arkansas restores wetlands and bottomland hardwood forests.

These projects reduce sediment and nutrient runoff while connecting the community to nature through trails, education, and outdoor spaces. Together, they showcase how cities can use natural solutions for environmental protection and quality of life.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet that explores solutions. This episode is part of the Mississippi By Nature series that is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

Many water utilities across the U.S. are grappling with aging infrastructure, underfunding, and staffing challenges, but solutions are within reach through smarter management and targeted technical assistance.

From a conversation at the Reservoir Center, George Hawkins, CEO of Moonshot Missions, shares how his organization helps utilities of all sizes improve operations, access federal funding, and adopt innovative technologies.

George emphasizes the crucial role of Environmental Finance Centers in delivering technical support to ensure underserved communities benefit from the historic influx of federal funding.

With examples like Toledo's shift toward energy recovery, the discussion illustrates how utilities can enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and drive meaningful environmental progress.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode is from the Reservoir Center in Washington, D.C., where waterloop is a media partner.

Milwaukee faces a significant challenge with over 70,000 lead service lines. In response, the city has implemented a replacement program initiated by an ordinance in 2017. This initiative leverages federal funding to focus on disadvantaged communities, with an emphasis on neighborhoods identified as most in need through an area deprivation index.

In this episode, Superintendent Patrick Pauly of Milwaukee Water Works, Janet Pritchard from the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, and Richard Diaz of the Blue Green Alliance discuss the program’s funding strategies, including principal forgiveness funding that allows for 100% coverage of private side replacements without costs to property owners. They highlight the impact of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which has provided a substantial influx of resources, enabling Milwaukee to increase its replacement goals from approximately 1,000 lines per year to 2,200 in 2024 and 3,500 in 2025.

Additionally, the discussion emphasizes a robust workforce development strategy, which mandates that contractors must allocate 25% of project dollars to small business enterprises and ensure that 40% of work hours are performed by workers from local disadvantaged areas.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet. This episode on lead service line replacement is supported by BlueConduit, the Environmental Defense Fund, and the Environmental Policy Innovation Center.

Milwaukee is tackling the challenge of urban stormwater management through an innovative community-based public-private partnership.

The Fresh Coast Protection Partnership is expanding green infrastructure, enhancing neighborhood quality, and developing the local workforce.

In this episode, Bre Plier from the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and Kurt Farrell of CIS delve into the intricacies of scaling these efforts, benefits of collaboration, and impactful results seen so far, such as capturing millions of gallons of stormwater and revitalizing urban spaces.

They also highlight the importance of designing with maintenance in mind, engaging community stakeholders, and fostering small, minority, and women-owned businesses.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet.

This episode is made possible by CIS, who is working with community visionaries to lead some of the nation's largest urban infrastructure programs to create resilient cities. Visit cisolutions.com