United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack that 41 watersheds in 12 states have been selected to participate in a new initiative to improve water quality and the overall health of the Mississippi River Basin.
Statement of , Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ Vice President, Mississippi River Initiative:
"Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ commends Secretary Vilsack and National Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White for establishing a strong vision for conservation and restoration in the Mississippi River watershed.
"From nutrient pollution to habitat loss, our nation's largest and most important watershed faces many threats. The scope and scale of USDA's will contribute significantly toward a healthier and more sustainable future for this system and all the people, birds and other wildlife that depend on it.
"Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ's coordinated regional conservation efforts in the Mississippi River watershed align well with the USDA's initiative, and we look forward to working closely with the NRCS as plans are developed and implemented in the coming months."
For more on Ô¼ÅÚÊÓÆµ's work in the Mississippi River watershed, see .