Mississippi River
The fourth largest river in the world, the mighty Mississippi drains 32 states, is the migration corridor for 60 percent of North American bird species, and helps move ~500 million tons of cargo annually. Over the last 150 years the river has been altered drastically by flood and navigation structures, agriculture, and development. These changes have had large impacts on wildlife, water quality (both in the river and downstream in the Gulf of Mexico), and surrounding communities.
ALC works along the Mississippi to selectively protect and restore critical habitat, ensure human use of the river is in balance with ecological needs, create new public recreation areas, and increase public advocacy for conservation.
Since 1993 ALC has conserved or enhanced nearly 25,000 acres of islands, side channels, floodplains, forests, and wetlands, protecting habitat for endangered species and other plants and wildlife and benefiting riverside communities.
LATEST NEWS: Buck Island Dedicated; River Trail Launched
Current Projects: Cache River Wetlands II
Other News:
- ALC Announces Opening of Lower MS River Trail & Conservation of Buck Island!
- "Time to invest in a sustainable river" - ALC op ed 5/27/11
- Canoe and Kayak Magazine Tours Buck Island - Watch the Video!
- ALC and Partners Sign Agreement to Restore America's Greatest River
Projects Map |
Projects Within the Mississippi River Program
- B.K. Leach Memorial Conservation Area
Restoring a Crucial Flyway - Beaver Island
Protecting the Pallid Sturgeon - Big Muddy River Boat Launch
Providing Safe and Convenient Access to the Big Muddy River - Buck Island
Bringing Tourism to the Lower Mississippi - Cache River Wetlands
Protecting a rich river corridor - Carbondale Wetlands
Protecting migratory bird habitat and community green space - Crains Island I
Conserving Rare River Habitat - Crains Island II
Conserving forested bottomlands - Cypress Creek Refuge I
Reducing forest fragmentation - Devil's Island
Providing new outdoor recreation - Grantsburg Swamp
Protecting Habitat for Rare and Sensitive Species - Ice Grain
Illinois' Hidden Treasure - Inahgeh Wetlands Project
Returning Farmland to Wetland Wilderness - Kaskaskia Island
A Vision for a Healthy River - Middle Mississippi Wetland Field Station
Restored wetland enables new research - Rockwood Island
Expanding a River Refuge - Thebes Boat Ramp
Creating a New Riverfront Park