In honor of the 50^th anniversary of Sea Grant, this symposium will focus on inter-jurisdictional management issues along the Mississippi River and the research and outreach contributions made by Sea Grant programs. Nutrient loading, sedimentation, navigation, recreation, hydropower, water quality, and climate change all serve to impact aquatic biodiversity in the river. The introduction, spread and establishment of nonnative species is also widely regarded as a leading threat, as the river serves as a potential pathway for expansion of nonnative species between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes Basin. Sea Grant and its partners are pursuing multiple initiatives to tackle these issues along the river from Minnesota to Louisiana. The proposed symposium aims to bring together researchers and managers from a wide range of disciplines to highlight ongoing research, discuss innovative tools to enhance fisheries management, and to explore opportunities for future partnerships in the region.