By Christina Fernández-Morrow
The Clean River Advisory Council (C-RAC, pronounced “see-rack”) is seeking community input through a community survey aimed at addressing environmental disparities and strengthening connections to the Mississippi River within the Quad Cities.
C-RAC, formed in 2023 through a partnership between the Quad Cities Community Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation’s Mississippi River Initiative with support from IMAN Consulting, launched the survey in August to better understand local environmental concerns and potential solutions.
“The main purpose of the survey is to understand what folks are most concerned about,” said Angelica Villarreal, project manager at IMAN Consulting, the firm contracted to help facilitate the project.
The initiative brings together environmental experts and enthusiasts to align local efforts with the Mississippi River Equity Vision established in 2023. The council serves as a network hub to address broader environmental and conservation initiatives impacting the Upper Mississippi River Basin at local and regional levels.
Focusing on Priority Neighborhoods
One of C-RAC’s primary focuses has been designated priority neighborhoods like the West End Rock Island and Watertown in East Moline, to capture the stories of communities disproportionately impacted by inadequate preservation of waterways connected to the river.
The survey, available in English and Spanish through the end of the year, has been disseminated through council members’ networks, word of mouth, and participation at community events like local farmers markets. Most responses, including those from Latino residents, have been submitted in English, with Latino responses primarily coming from Floreciente and Watertown residents.
“Black and Brown voices are not as prevalent in environmental issues in this area, so C-RAC is trying to elevate their voices and include their ideas and concerns in the Mississippi River Equity Vision Plan,” Villarreal said.
Grant Funding Supports River Connection
The council’s efforts are supported by the QC River Connections Grant Program, created in 2023 through a partnership between the Quad Cities Community Foundation and the Walton Family Foundation’s Mississippi River Initiative with support from IMAN Consulting. The program distributed $368,000 to 12 recipients in 2023, including $18,635 to Palomares Social Justice Center for Clean-Up Floreciente, $45,000 to Spring Forward Learning Center for river-focused summer enrichment camps, and $5,500 to East Moline Main Street for a river neighborhood unification project.
In 2025, $315,000 was awarded to 13 recipients, including $15,000 to Her Voice Media for “Rooted: Girls, the River & the Fight for Environmental Justice,” $14,220 to Moline Public Art Council for a Mississippi River sculpture celebrating pollinators, and $50,000 to Nahant Marsh Education Center for land restoration and community resilience programming.
The funding focuses on building environmental stewardship and strengthening connections to the river, with youth programming that has served more than 600 students, including some who grew up in the Quad Cities but had never visited the river.
Translating Data into Action
After the survey closes at the end of 2025, C-RAC plans to present findings to the community through listening sessions or structured discussions. The council will also share results with stakeholders and city council members starting in March 2026.
With three additional years of funding secured from the Walton Family Foundation, C-RAC aims to translate survey data into tangible, sustainable local solutions. “We’re looking at what these solutions are. For example, if the city of Rock Island is most interested in having rain gardens in their neighborhood, how are we going to help support those projects?” Villarreal said.
The council is focused on long-term sustainability beyond the current funding period. “The goal is to figure out how this movement, initiative, and council can be sustainable, not just in the years we have funded, but beyond that,” Villarreal said.
Take the Survey
Community members can share their environmental concerns and ideas by visiting https://cleanriverqc.com/ to complete the survey in English or Spanish before the end of the year. C-RAC encourages all Quad Cities residents to participate in shaping the future of local conservation efforts and ensuring their voices are heard in decisions affecting the Mississippi River and surrounding communities.
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