This episode is part of a series Mississippi By Nature that explores how nature based solutions are helping the river and its communities.

For the past 200 years, no single entity has had more influence on the Mississippi River than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since 1824, the federal agency has been responsible for maintaining navigation, promoting commerce, and preventing flooding along the waterway.

This responsibility has primarily involved the construction of rigid infrastructure such as levees and spillways, effectively constraining the river from its natural behaviors.

In this episode, Tim Axtman, a Senior Planner at the Army Corps, delves into this rich history and its outcomes. He also explains how the agency is working to adopt an engineering with nature approach in the Mississippi, which often entails allowing the river to flow more freely and transport sediment as it did in the past.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.

This episode is part of a series Mississippi By Nature that explores how nature based solutions are helping the river and its communities.

This episode features a ride to the mouth of the Mississippi River with Captain Richie Blink of Delta Discovery Tours, who shares how he has seen the river change over his decades on the water and how projects that use nature itself are beneficial.

Then John Sabo, Director of the ByWater Institute at Tulane University in New Orleans, provides an overview of the health of the Mississippi and the role of nature based solutions in reducing flood threats and improving water quality.

The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia. waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet.

The iconic Charles River, central to Boston's suburbs and urban landscape, faces significant environmental challenges, including the impacts of climate change. The problems such as flooding hit hardest in downstream areas that are often disadvantaged communities.

Dira Johanif, with her roots in the diverse environments of Malaysia—from bustling cities to the lush rainforests of Borneo—brings a unique perspective to her role as a Senior Climate Resilience Associate at the Charles River Watershed Association in Massachusetts. Her international experiences have shaped her approach to water stewardship and environmental justice in the U.S.

Dira's work centers on implementing nature-based solutions and spearheading collaborative initiatives like the Charles River Climate Compact, which demonstrates the essential role of regional cooperation in building climate resilience. To communicate the river’s issues to diverse audiences across the Boston region, Dira leverages storytelling and community engagement.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. This episode is part of the Color Of Water series, a collaboration between waterloop and the Water Hub that features interviews with diverse experts from communities across the country.