LA CROSSE, Wis. (WXOW) -- The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative (MRCTI) announced its 2023-25 leadership which includes La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds as the organization's co-chair. 

MRCTI is a coalition of mayors from along the Mississippi River Basin. The organization addresses a variety of matters concerning the river, including water quality, habitat restoration, water conservation, river management and improvement. 

MRCTI's governing structure calls for two co-chairs and a committee comprised of members from each state along the Mississippi River. Reynolds said involvement is essential because the area's future is defined by Mississippi River. 

"Being able to have a voice on a national level to advocate for my city is absolutely essential I think and honestly an incredible privilege. Being able to do that for my city as well as all of the mayors along the Mississippi," Reynolds said. "I'm incredibly honored to be able to have that opportunity."

Reynolds said he wants to address a national drought policy as the U.S. doesn't have one, along with protecting the river as a resource for every state while preventing water diversion efforts. 

"Our focus, our goal is to have an impact on the policies of, specifically, the federal government on how we're managing the Mississippi River as a resource," Reynolds said. "Not only as a navigation resource and a shipment of goods resource but also a natural habitat resource."

To learn more about the MRCTI, click here. 

https://www.wxow.com/news/mayor-reynolds-selected-as-the-2023-25-co-chair-for-mrcti/article_44f556b8-5d82-11ee-8f9e-fb8167271b88.html