The Mississippi River Trust, a charitable, 501(c)(3) organization, works only with private, willing landowners to find ways to preserve the Mississippi River watershed's rich history, prairies, red clay hills, bottomlands and bayous, coastal savannas, longleaf pine forests and scenic rivers and streams.

Our primary tool for land conservation is a conservation easement. It is an alternative to selling the land for development. A conservation easement will allow a willing landowner to retain ownership of the land, protect important environmental or historical assets of the land from future development and obtain certain tax advantages.

Formed in 2002, the purposes of the Mississippi River Trust are:

(1) To conserve the ecology and natural environment of the Mississippi River Valley from Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico by encouraging landowners to donate land and interests in land for conservation purposes;

(2) To consult and work with governmental and private agencies on conservation and planning problems as they relate to the Mississippi River Valley, and promote the responsible use of land and water resources in order to serve the ecological, scenic, economic and recreational needs of the people of the Mississippi River Valley;

(3) To acquire and hold title to land and conservation interests in land in the watershed of the Mississippi River directly and in cooperation with other land trusts and government agencies in order to ensure the benefits of land protected from industrial, commercial, and residential development;

(4) To educate the public about the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants, and encourage them to become responsible stewards of the Mississippi River Valley's natural resources.

(5) To educate the public and private landowners about the conservation options available to landowners.

Click here for a Staff Profile.