Formed in 1981 by the Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin, the purpose of the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) is to facilitate dialogue and cooperative action regarding water and related land resource issues in the basin. UMRBA serves as a regional interstate forum, facilitates cooperative planning and coordinated resource management, creates mechanisms of information exchange for states, federal partners and nongovernmental organziations, develops regional positions on river resource issues, and advocates for the states' collective interests. Specific issue areas of focus for UMRBA include aquatic nuisance species, commercial navigation, ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, hydropower, spill response, and water quality.