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Ecological and Economic Need for the Missouri River Watershed Coalition

The Missouri River is the longest river in the United States. At 2,540 miles in length, it drains about one-sixth of the North American continent. From its headwaters in the northern Rocky Mountains, the Missouri River and its tributaries flow through the western states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. These states rely heavily upon the Missouri River headwaters system for economic and ecological stability. The rivers, streams, reservoirs, and ponds of the watershed support and provide for agriculture, livestock, recreation, tourism, wildlife habitat, irrigation, drinking water, industry, and power generation throughout these states. Invasive plant species, saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) and Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) in particular, threaten these many uses. Recognizing the critical need to protect the natural resources of the Missouri River headwaters, state weed coordinators from Colorado, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming and other interested parties began the process of forming what would come to be known as the Missouri River Watershed Coalition (MRWC) in 2005. Since its inception, the Coalition has coordinated its efforts with federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, businesses, universities, conservation groups, and private landowners concerned with the spread of saltcedar and other invasive plants throughout watersheds that cross jurisdictional boundaries.

Financial resources are currently inadequate to effectively manage noxious weeds in many of the MRWC states. Increased funding to natural resource managers, county weed districts, and federal and state agencies, and improved efficiency and organization of grassroots efforts are critical to implementing viable weed management programs in the Watershed. With shrinking state budgets, the national economic downturn, predicted geographic expansion of well-established noxious weeds due to climate change, and the potential for many new invasions (aquatic and terrestrial) on the horizon, the need to cooperate and pool limited resources on the watershed level has never been more necessary.

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MRWC Invasive Species
Videos from Wild Dakota TV

Produced by Wild Dakota in partnership with the MRWC, these video segments describe the seriousness of invasive and noxious weeds to our natural habitat. Watch now.

EDDMapS Overview and Instructions (PDF)

Mission

To maintain productive, biodiverse riparian ecosystems that provide quality water, habitat, recreation, and power to meet the economic and ecological needs of the Missouri River Watershed region.

Goals

  • Reduce the introduction and spread of saltcedar (Tamarix spp.) and other invasive plants in the Missouri River Watershed region;
  • Increase regional coordination and communication, and develop regional management strategies and priorities for invasive plant species and water resources;
  • Maximize funding efficiency for public education, prevention, management, and restoration projects on riparian corridors; and
  • Team government, businesses, universities, conservation groups, landowners, water users, and sportsmen in private-public partnerships.
Executive Committee

The Missouri River Watershed Coalition (MRWC) Executive Committee supervises the business, programs, and policies approved by the Coalition membership, and appoints members to special workgroups as deemed necessary to conduct the business of the Coalition. Authorized representatives from each state and an elected MRWC President and Vice President make up the Executive Committee. The Vice President assumes the duties of the President in his absence.

The Center for Invasive Plant Management is responsible for MRWC program coordination and, with assistance from Montana State University, provides fiscal services (contracting, subcontracting, and reporting) to the Coalition.

Executive Committee Members (October 2011)

Select a State to Learn About Its Efforts

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