April 13 deadline for journalists to apply for expenses-paid expedition to learn about Upper Mississippi River issues

The Institute for Journalism and Natural Resources is accepting applications for the Upper Mississippi River Institute, a expenses-paid week in June for 15 to 20 journalists to learn about the issues that originate in and affect a watershed that drains nearly 40 percent of the contiguous United States.

Selected journalists will meet with local citizens, elected officials, business owners, resource managers and scientists to explore topics such as:

• The 2018 Farm Bill and how activities and incentives it promotes on land will shape the river from its headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
• The connections between domestic oil and gas, Midwest agriculture and the loss of Minnesota forests and wetlands.
• A new vision for the Mississippi River and a push to connect more communities in the Twin Cities to it.
• "Soil health," the latest science in soil conservation, and community efforts to reduce runoff on Minnesota farms.
• Federal and state efforts to restore habitat, rebuild islands and reintroduce endangered freshwater mussels below Lock and Dam 7 on the Mississippi.
• Mining for sand in Minnesota and Wisconsin and different approaches to local control of zoning and resource extraction.
• Industrial-scale agriculture, nitrate pollution and mounting difficulties for utilities trying to provide safe drinking water to rural communities.
• Efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species and exotic pathogens.
• The Mississippi's long history of human development and attempts to control floods and keep the river on an "acceptable" course.
• The river’s big economic impact as a main artery of commercial shipping.

Applications will be accepted through April 13. Click here to learn more or apply.