A support group and a lab in the St. Louis area provide resources for people with the allergy to mammal products — and evidence that its effects can be reversed.
Interstate 80 passes over the Mississippi River in an aerial photo. Nick Rohlman, Cedar Rapids Gazette, with aerial support provided by SouthWings
We've got some real meat-and-potatoes reporting to share with you this week: a deep dive inside WRDA, the Water Resources Development Act that Congress passes every two years. In an interstate collaboration, Madeline Heim of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Delaney Dryfoos of The Lens in New Orleans produced this comprehensive piece.
They explain what it means for communities all along the Mississippi River. From a study of flood risk up North, to a new multi-billion dollar levee and floodwall system in Louisiana, and even a change in how water infrastructure is funded, there's "a lot of there, there" as we say in the journalism business. (Caveat: Funding for these projects comes later.)
To produce this, Madeline and Delaney dug through the legislation and added important context by unpacking it with sources. The Desk publishes these stories because it's important for folks across the Basin to understand how their tax dollars are spent, and this ensures that it's accessible to anyone (not just the policy wonks!)
I asked them what interested and surprised them in the reporting process:
Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"Big federal legislation like WRDA often feels so far away from readers’ real lives—but particularly for people who live along the Mississippi, and they’re going to see the impacts of it," said Heim. "I’m hopeful this story will help our readers further understand the connection between all of these river communities from the headwaters to the Gulf, and the shared challenges and opportunities they have."
Delaney Dryfoos, The Lens
"I look forward to the development of the nature-based solutions outlined in the WRDA," added Dryfoos. "The Hatchie-Loosahatchie Ecosystem Restoration project is the largest in the history of the Memphis District for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. I also look forward to seeing the impact in Mississippi, where several counties should receive funding for water and wastewater system improvements."
As always, this is the beauty of what we do at the Ag & Water Desk: No other journalism outlet has our specific focus to cover issues and policies like this through the lens of the Mississippi River Basin.
Check out the full piece here. We'd love to hear your thoughts and reaction if one of these projects is in your community.
Thanks for reading. More next week from across the Basin!
Sincerely,
Michael Crowe Interim Assistant Director, Ag & Water Desk
