It's the Eco Minute, powered by Clean Wisconsin, your environmental voice.
Since 1970, I'm Amy Berrio.
Happy 75th birthday to Wisconsin's State Natural Areas Program created in 1951, the first program of its kind in the country and the largest.
There are nearly 700 natural sites cared for and protected through the program.
Our very first state natural area was Parfri's Glen in the Baraboo Hills.
How often do you think about the Mississippi River?
Unless you live near the river, maybe not as much as you should, considering more than half of Wisconsin is in the river's watershed.
But now, it's getting its very own day.
June 2nd is National
Mississippi River Day, a moment to pause and celebrate, protect and connect with our nation's most iconic waterway.
The mighty Mississippi and its wetlands provide critical habitat for countless species and the Upper Mississippi brings $24 billion in tourism to our region.
For a deep dive into Wisconsin's most pressing environmental issues, check out the Defender podcast at CleanWisconsin.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
