This edition of the River Citizen newsletter celebrates the success of River Days of Action 2025, highlights the alarming scale of the Gulf Dead Zone, showcases a captivating guest blog recounting a 688-mile paddle down the Lower Mississippi, and urges readers to act against federal funding cuts. It also offers engaging content, including a fun trivia quiz, curated river-related news, and actionable steps to defend key River-protection programs.

• River Days of Action 2025: Over 2,000 river advocates and 78 organizations united for cleanups, webinars, and events from the river’s headwaters to the Gulf, marked by the inaugural National Mississippi River Day.
• The 2025 Gulf Dead Zone: The oxygen-depleted region in the Gulf spanned 4,402 square miles—roughly the size of Connecticut—driven by pollution from the Mississippi. The newsletter underscores that while the problem remains, actionable solutions are within reach.
• Guest Blog: 688-Mile Paddle: From Quapaw Canoe Company, John Ruskey recounts paddling the Lower Mississippi over a summer swell, capturing wild scenery—from beaver lodges to a one-eyed alligator—through vivid storytelling and photos.
• Action Alert: Protect River Programs: Stresses that essential federal programs—including the Lower Mississippi River Comprehensive Management Study—are at risk of defunding. Readers are encouraged to take a one-minute action to contact Congress and advocate on behalf of the River.
• “The Current” & River-Related News: Features a podcast episode responding to Iowa water research, plus links to recent media: a PBS NewsHour video, industrial-river relationships, conservation debates, and efforts on invasive carp management.
• Trivia: Big Muddy Quiz: Question: Where does the Lower Mississippi River begin? Answer: Cairo, Illinois. Plus, with a bonus fun fact.

Stay informed and get involved by reading the full newsletter: August River Citizen Newsletter – August 2025

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