Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Not just a Gulf problem: Mississippi River farm runoff pollutes upstream waters

Worsening local effects on health and recreation in states like Minnesota and Wisconsin are spurring action on problems that also cause the Gulf of Mexico’s chronic 'dead zone.'

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 19 Jun 2024

Not just a Gulf problem: Mississippi River farm runoff pollutes upstream waters

For a century, this upper Mississippi River refuge has been an ecological oasis. What comes next?

The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge celebrates its centennial this month with dozens of events aimed at getting people out to explore its beauty and unique value. It protects more than 240,000 acres of river floodplain -- the kind that, elsewhere in the watershed, has been

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 5 Jun 2024

For a century, this upper Mississippi River refuge has been an ecological oasis. What comes next?

Ice cover on the upper Mississippi River was fleeting this winter. Is this our future?

This season, the last of the ice that typically persists on the upper Mississippi River through the start of spring had melted and was floating downstream at the end of February. Many described the winter conditions as something they'd never experienced before. But as climate change continues to pro

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 21 Mar 2024

Ice cover on the upper Mississippi River was fleeting this winter. Is this our future?

'A race to the bottom': Indiana wetlands bill could affect Mississippi River, Great Lakes

Conservation groups and water policy experts feared that the Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency ruling would create a patchwork of state protections, threatening water quality in both the Great Lakes and Mississippi River watersheds. Now they say that fear is becoming a reality with a new bi

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Caitlin Looby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 20 Feb 2024

'A race to the bottom': Indiana wetlands bill could affect Mississippi River, Great Lakes

Latest farm data a ‘wake-up call’ as Midwest farmers face ever steeper challenges

The latest Ag Census data show alarming trends in the upper Mississippi River basin, one of the most intensive agricultural areas in the country: Less diverse farmers, more and more farms are going out of business, and farmland is being consolidated, making it even more difficult to get into the ind

By Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest, Erin Jordan, The Gazette, Brittney J. Miller, The Gazette, Chris Clayton, DTN/The Progressive Farmer and Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 16 Feb 2024

Latest farm data a ‘wake-up call’ as Midwest farmers face ever steeper challenges

Renewed legislation aims to safeguard Mississippi River amid growing environmental concerns

A proposal to create a federal funding program to protect the Mississippi River, which advocates say would mirror those of other major watersheds and is long overdue, is back in front of Congress.

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 8 Feb 2024

Renewed legislation aims to safeguard Mississippi River amid growing environmental concerns

How clean is the upper Mississippi River? New report finds signs of improvement, emerging threats

A new report from the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association found that although water quality has generally improved in the upper river in past decades, new threats, such as road salt and lead, are emerging.

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 9 Jan 2024

How clean is the upper Mississippi River? New report finds signs of improvement, emerging threats

Conservation programs offer solutions to climate threats, but are vastly underfunded

The Biden administration has called USDA conservation programs a "linchpin" in the nation's climate strategy.

By Erin Jordan, The Gazette, Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Mónica Cordero, Investigate Midwest

/ 15 Nov 2023

Conservation programs offer solutions to climate threats, but are vastly underfunded

Study finds Mississippi River basin residents concerned about environment, but largely unaware they live in the watershed

New research gives a rare look at climate attitudes of Mississippi River basin residents and the relationship they have — or don't have — with one of the world's most important rivers.

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 31 Oct 2023

Study finds Mississippi River basin residents concerned about environment, but largely unaware they live in the watershed

The Mississippi River's floodplain forests are dying. The race is on to bring them back.

The recent losses are worrying to scientists and land managers — especially since climate change will make extreme flooding a more frequent threat.

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

/ 9 Aug 2023

The Mississippi River's floodplain forests are dying. The race is on to bring them back.

'This is on our doorstep now': Wildfire smoke is new hazard in upper Midwest

Smoke from Canadian wildfires that turned skies along the East Coast a sickly yellow also brought air quality alerts to much of the Midwest this week. Climate experts say that as the planet warms, this kind of unhealthy air will become less of an anomaly.

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Chloe Johnson, The Star Tribune

/ 9 Jul 2023

'This is on our doorstep now': Wildfire smoke is new hazard in upper Midwest

Midwest states, often billed as climate havens, suffer summer of smoke, drought, heat

“As climate changes, it’s changing everything for everyone,” says one expert.

By Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Chloe Johnson, The Star Tribune

/ 3 Jul 2023

Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Not just a Gulf problem: Mississippi River farm runoff pollutes upstream waters

For a century, this upper Mississippi River refuge has been an ecological oasis. What comes next?

Ice cover on the upper Mississippi River was fleeting this winter. Is this our future?

'A race to the bottom': Indiana wetlands bill could affect Mississippi River, Great Lakes

Latest farm data a ‘wake-up call’ as Midwest farmers face ever steeper challenges

Renewed legislation aims to safeguard Mississippi River amid growing environmental concerns

How clean is the upper Mississippi River? New report finds signs of improvement, emerging threats

Conservation programs offer solutions to climate threats, but are vastly underfunded

Study finds Mississippi River basin residents concerned about environment, but largely unaware they live in the watershed

The Mississippi River's floodplain forests are dying. The race is on to bring them back.

'This is on our doorstep now': Wildfire smoke is new hazard in upper Midwest

Midwest states, often billed as climate havens, suffer summer of smoke, drought, heat

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