OBJECTIVES

Lower Mississippi RIVERKEEPER^® objectives are to:

• Educate the public and community leaders about water quality concerns along the River.
• Strengthen the environmental community in Louisiana and recruit new activists to insist on improved river conditions.
• Monitor and investigate reported incidents.
• Target polluters and compel compliance with the Clean Water Act to reduce pollution into the River.

To achieve those objectives, LMRK will employ the following strategy:

• Hold a high profile media event to launch the project and regularly publicize Lower Mississippi RIVERKEEPER^® findings and accomplishments, targeting print and electronic media.
• Create a project web site, www.lmrk.org, with information on the project, events, problems and opportunities to help.
• Create written materials to promote Lower Mississippi Riverkeeper projects and highlight opportunities for citizen involvement.
• Launch a Lower Mississippi RIVERKEEPER patrol boat to serve as a constant presence on the river, putting polluters on notice that they are being watched.
• Establish a toll-free hotline, 1-866-MSRIVER, for citizens and business to report problems.
• Identify and challenge major polluters through investigation, preparation and prosecution or settlement of Clean Water Act citizen enforcement actions with representation from the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic.

Lower Mississippi RIVERKEEPER^® will be the first project of its kind for Louisiana and the first on the Mississippi River. It will energize current activists to participate in environmental decisions, educate the public and government leaders about challenges and opportunities regarding the Mississippi River and reduce water pollution into the river. This project has the potential to significantly improve water quality in Louisiana and engage more Louisiana citizens in environmental activism.