Mississippi River Water Trail Association receives US Army Corps of Engineers national Excellence in Partnership Award
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Annually, the US Army Corps of Engineers selects a single partner to bestow the national Excellence in Partnership (EIP) Award. The EIP Award recognizes exceptional contributions by a partner supporting the recreation and environmental stewardship programs within the Corps of Engineers.
At the Audubon Center at Riverlands annual “Ahhh-dubon” event on July 3rd, the award was presented to the Mississippi River Water Trail Association (MRWTA) by the St. Louis District USACE Commander, COL Pannier. The MRWTA is a St. Louis based group made up entirely of volunteers who are passionate about developing safe recreation opportunities on the Mississippi River. Since forming in 2005, MRWTA has contributed over 20,000 volunteer hours by providing skills training and public paddling events, promoting water safety, picking up trash, and bringing together people and organizations who want to recreate on big rivers and their backwater sloughs. The trail itself is 120 miles long and includes camping spots on several Mississippi River islands and many hidden gems to explore along the way.
“People often have strong opinions about the river without ever actually getting on or near the water,” said Katelynn Oreto, Natural Resources Specialist with the USACE Rivers Project. “The Water Trail Association, and the many partnering organizations they’ve helped bring together, have given thousands of people the opportunity to see for themselves what the river has to offer and hopefully instill a sense of respect and responsibility for its stewardship.”
What makes the MRWTA worthy of national recognition? “This partnership serves as a blueprint for all the good that can come when people and organizations rally around a shared mission.” Oreto said. “These volunteers are critical to recreational programs on our stretch of the river. They’re passionate, they show up to make things happen, and they deserve all the recognition we can give them.”
“We are very honored to be the 2024 national recipient of the Excellence in Partnership Award”, said Melissa Sauter, President of the Mississippi River Water Trail Association. “We are also very thankful of our many fantastic volunteers, as well as the support we receive from USACE Rangers at the Rivers Projects Office. With the dedication of both we have created unique amenities and exciting paddling opportunities for new and experienced paddlers on the mid-Mississippi River.”
“We invite those who want to learn how to safely paddle on big rivers to take one of our skill clinics, participate in our organized paddling events, clean up a Water Trail site, join in GreatRivers Rendezvous, or compete in our annual Firecracker Race. Once you have recreated in and around the Mississippi River you will see that our big rivers are an incredible recreational resource that can be safely enjoyed”, replied Craig Heaton, longtime MRWTA Board Member.
The Rivers Project Office is located at 301 Riverlands Way, West Alton, MO. For more information, please contact the Rivers Project at 636-899-2600 or visit https://mississippiriverwatertrail.org/ to learn more about the Mississippi River Water Trail Association.
About the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
USACE is the lead federal flood control agency, the largest provider of water recreation in the country, and in recent decades has become a leading environmental and preservation agency. Its mission is to deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with partners, to secure the Nation, energize the economy, and reduce disaster risk. The Rivers Project, commanded by the USACE St. Louis District, manages approximately 50 thousand acres of land and 100 thousand acres of water along 300 miles of the Mississippi River and 80 of the lower Illinois River. This includes the last four locks and dams on the Mississippi River, the National Great Rivers Museum, the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary, a service base, and several motor vessels.
About the Mississippi River Water Trail Association (MRWTA)
Since 2007, MRWTA has coordinated volunteers and events on the Mississippi River to ensure high quality and affordable recreational and educational opportunities and to promote safe public use of the 121 mile water trail. The Mississippi River Water Trail was initially developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in concert with the American Canoe Association and other organizations in response to public requests for a water trail on the Mississippi River within the St. Louis District boundary. MRWTA Volunteers provide support by maintaining trail rest areas, primitive campsites, and facilities to ensure quality recreational opportunities for paddlers. The MRWTA also facilitates collaboration with communities, organizations, and agencies to foster sound safety and conservation practices along the river.
