The Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative Act (MRRRI Act) would create a new, nonregulatory Federal program to protect and restore the ecological health and resilience of the Mississippi River Corridor. The core idea is to coordinate and fund large-scale restoration projects across the river’s watershed, with emphasis on water quality, floodplain and habitat restoration, invasive species control, and community resilience. A new Mississippi River National Program Office would be established within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), led by a qualified MRRRI Director, who would coordinate with other federal agencies, states, Tribes, and local entities. The bill also establishes three Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers (one national center within the US Geological Survey and two regional centers based at universities) and requires a science plan and an ongoing science forum to guide priorities and measure progress. Key elements include: (1) a formal framework of actionable goals and an action plan with regular updates; (2) funding mechanisms, including interagency transfers, minimum Tribal funding, and cost-share rules; (3) project eligibility and focus areas (water quality, floodplain and wetland restoration, habitat protection, invasive species control, and related coordination/monitoring); (4) performance monitoring requirements and public reporting; and (5) safeguards to ensure compatibility with navigation, disaster-risk infrastructure, and existing federal programs. The Act would amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to add these provisions and would require annual reporting and public engagement.
Key Points
- 1Establishes a Mississippi River National Program Office within the EPA to coordinate, develop, implement, and report on the MRRRI, with the office located in a Mississippi River State and led by a Director with appropriate expertise. Also creates a Tribal liaison and a framework for interagency and public engagement.
- 2Defines focus areas and eligible actions for projects, including: improving water quality and source-water protections; increasing community resilience to floods and storms; protecting/restoring fish and wildlife habitat; preventing aquatic invasive species; enhancing coordination and monitoring; and collecting/evaluating data to track progress.
- 3Sets up the Mississippi River Corridor Research Centers (three centers: one national center within USGS and two regional centers at host universities in the Upper and Lower Mississippi regions). These centers conduct science, advise on monitoring and program priorities, and coordinate with federal and nonfederal partners. A matching science plan, created via a science forum hosted by USGS, guides priorities and metrics.
- 4Creates a detailed funding framework: ability to transfer funds to relevant federal agencies or to nonfederal entities (with cost-sharing rules generally at 80% federal share, 100% for certain tribal recipients and specific eligible actions). Requires a separate budget line item for the MRRRI, with appropriate earmarks for operation and program management. Prohibits using MRRRI funds for certain water infrastructure activities funded elsewhere (e.g., revolving funds and WIFIA).
- 5Establishes project selection criteria to promote equitable distribution, measurable environmental outcomes, feasibility, and interagency coordination, while ensuring compatibility with Corps navigation interests and disaster-risk reduction infrastructure.
- 6Requires accountability and transparency: annual reports to Congress, a public website with project information, and public notice/comment processes for plans and updates. Mandates set-aside provisions to prioritize disaster resilience and emerging threats, and sets up a process to update actionable goals and the science plan.
- 7Communication and coordination with the Hypoxia Task Force (Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico hypoxia efforts) and integration with existing Federal, State, and Tribal plans and programs to avoid duplication and leverage resources.