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Clean River group presents survey finding strong local connection to the Mississippi River
Summary
The Clean River Advisory Council reported results from a July–December survey of 465 Quad Cities residents, finding 65% felt a strong connection to the Mississippi River and widespread support for intercity cooperation on river protection and nature‑based solutions.
Andy Park, a member of the Clean River Advisory Council, presented the council’s July–December community survey to the Rock Island City Council on March 23. The team collected 465 responses and reported that 65% of respondents said they felt a "very strong or even strong" connection to the Mississippi River and that 52% reported a personal or family memory tied to the river.
The presentation highlighted what residents said prevents fuller river engagement — lack of free time and limited awareness of events — and concerns about trash and litter, water‑quality perceptions and potential flooding. Park said the council plans more neighborhood focus groups and follow‑up with respondents who requested continued involvement.
Nina, a CRAC presenter, described community priorities for nature‑based solutions. In Rock Island’s West End neighborhood, respondents ranked planting trees along the Mississippi and restoring wetlands as top priorities; across Rock Island respondents prioritized wetland restoration, followed by tree planting and protecting naturally flooding areas. Open‑ended responses also emphasized public safety, accessible green space and visible municipal investments.
Council members asked about distribution and reach; CRAC said the survey was distributed at community events (including trunk‑or‑treats and farmers markets), through email blasts, PSAs and by focusing outreach on priority neighborhoods. CRAC agreed to provide a city‑by‑city breakdown of respondents and to follow up with materials and focus‑group invitations.
Why it matters: The survey gives the city neighborhood‑level input on how residents want to connect with and protect the river, and it points to specific projects — trees, wetland protection, rain gardens — that residents prefer. CRAC told the council it will use the results to guide local engagement and regional coordination efforts and to pursue funding and partnerships for the preferred nature‑based approaches.
What’s next: CRAC said it will share the slide deck and the city breakdown requested by councilors and will invite interested residents into future neighborhood focus groups. The council did not take formal action on CRAC recommendations at the meeting.
