For centuries, the Mississippi River has been used to quench the thirst of the US, nourish crops, energize homes, and transport goods. The Gulf of Mexico also provides food, jobs, and economic security to millions of people in the heart of America. The condition of lands far upstream play an important tole in the health of the Gulf and its local communities, which need resilient shorelines and regular flows of fresh, clean water. Sixty percent of the U.S. land base drains into the Gulf of Mexico, and land degration upstream and excess fertilizers in the Mississippi's waterways, result in a massive oxygen-deprived hypoxic zone. This critical problem hurts local industries and disproportionately impacts marginalized communities.

Through a three year partnership TNC and Cummins will restore upstream and dowmsream water resources. In the Upper Mississippi River Basin, we will engage new partners, build awareness, leverage impact, and harness nature-based solutions ro reduce the flow of nutrients into local rivers thus positively impacting the health of the Gulf of Mexico. Downstream where these impacts of the hypoxic zome are most severe, we will catalyze new coalitions and rebuild significant oyster beds to filter water and restore damaged shorelines, increasing community resilience and economic and ecological health.

Together we will restore the upstream rivers in the Mississippi River Basin, and rebuild natural infastructure in the Gulf of Mexico, a critical global resource. Cummins, along with The Nature Conservancy are committed to revitalizing the whole system - upstream and downstream - to contribute to long-term renewal of these communities and their economic and environmental health.