This September, we're thinking about what it means to care for the Mississippi River today so future generations can enjoy a healthy, thriving River tomorrow. Next year marks the centennial of the Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927, giving us a chance to look back at where we've been and ahead to where we're going.

In this issue:

• A farmer's roadside wetland — Jim O'Connell built a wetland next to a busy road outside Cedar Rapids to strip nitrate from farm runoff before it reaches the Cedar River, the city's drinking water source.
• What birds tell us about River health — On World Migratory Bird Day, National Audubon Society's Caitlin Wall explains how over 350 bird species rely on Mississippi Flyway wetlands each fall.
• Take action for clean water — Tell the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to reject a proposed rule that would strip Clean Water Act protections from most of the nation's wetlands and streams. Comment deadline: October 9.
• Mississippi Earthtones Festival — A free, family-friendly celebration of the River in Alton, IL on September 19, now in its 20th year.
• New floodplain forest research — A decade of data shows forest loss in northern reaches of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, tied closely to more frequent flooding.