Estefania Pinto Ruiz (KWQC)

Estefania Pinto Ruiz is a multimedia journalist who reports on the Mississippi River Basin for KWQC TV6 News and is a Report for America corps member.

Coastal Desk

Along the Mississippi River, volunteers work to collect and plant acorns to save struggling forests

Madeline Heim, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

For the past few decades, the trees that grow in the Mississippi River floodplain, known as floodplain forests, have been struggling. Although they're named for their ability to withstand the river's seasonal flooding, they've recently been overwhelmed by higher water and longer-lasting floods. Government agencies and nonprofits are attempting to reverse the forestland decline by planting new trees and volunteers are key to the effort.
Coastal Desk

Survey finds Latino voters concerned about Mississippi River health, environment

Estefania Pinto Ruiz (KWQC)

A new survey finds that Latino voters in the Mississippi River basin, including in Louisiana, care deeply about the river and are worried about pollution.