Upper Mississippi River Basin Association

Water quality - prepared implementation of a shared, interstate water quality monitoring strategy to be implemented in 2025-2026 at fixed sites on the upper mississippi river, including scoping the development of an emerging contaminants plan. Continued staff support for the states' interstate water quality committees. Represented umrba at other regional and national water quality meetings (5meetings). Produced acomprehensive water quality program report. Hosted one-of-two workshops focused on agriculture conservation practices.

Ecosystem - coordinated states involvement in ecosystem-related programs and other efforts and provided staff services for a federal/state interagency committee. Hosted several interagency meetings and conference call meetings. Providedextensive writing and review in developing partnership program reports as well as meeting-related services. Facilitated the development of partnership priorities for water level management, including updating the environmental pool management-focused nesp environmental report 53 and clarifying ecological objectives for employing water level management as a management tool. Supported evaluation of the umrba member states' charter regarding out-of-basin water diversions, including developing scenario planning exercises.

General services - policy research, issue analysis, meeting coordination, policy statements, and facilitating exchange of information among government agencies. Quantifiable outputs include 4multi-topic umrba quarterly meetings and representation of umrba on the board of directors for america's watershed initiative (12 meetings), the interstate council on water policy (20 meetings), and the national waterways foundation (3meetings). Represented umrba at many regional and national navigation-, flood risk-, and ecosystem-related meetings and conferences.tracked appropriations and other federal legislation and communicated states' positions on important legislation and related policy. Conducted annual diversion consultation. Continued developing umrba website, mostly involving uploading documents and designing web pages.

Navigation - coordinated states' positions on important legislation and related policy, including the navigation and ecosystem sustainability program (nesp), and facilitated partnership consultation with respect to nesp implementation. Updated the umrba navigation assets inventory. Represented umrba at regional and national navigation-related meetings (4 meetings).