Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act

H.R. 5340, the Upper Mississippi River Basin Protection Act, would establish a comprehensive scientific monitoring and modeling network to track sediment and nutrient levels throughout the Upper Mississippi River system. Managed by the U.S. Geological Survey, the program is designed to identify the primary sources of water pollution and create an internet-based system to share data on conservation projects with the public.

For citizens, this bill aims to improve water quality and river health by providing local communities and policymakers with more accurate data to address soil erosion and fertilizer runoff. By identifying exactly where pollutants are entering the river, the bill seeks to make environmental protection efforts more efficient and help protect the long-term sustainability of the region's water resources for recreation, agriculture, and municipal use.