Scheduled Meetings and Information

This year’s coordination meeting will be held at Reelfoot Lake State Park near Tiptonville in northwest Tennessee. The park’s ecosystem is unlike any other place in Tennessee. Reelfoot lake is a flooded forest noted for its history, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. The 15,000 acre lake was created by a series of violent earthquakes in 1811-1812 that caused the Mississippi River to flow backwards for a short period of time, creating Reelfoot Lake. Meeting attendees will have many opportunities for outdoor recreation. More information on the park is available at https://tnstateparks.com/parks/reelfoot-lake.

MRBP guidelines for requesting travel assistance are here. Requests for travel assistance should be submitted to MRBP@MICRArivers.org by Friday, August 20.

All MRBP members, whether you will be attending the meeting or not attending, are asked to provide a brief written update on significant ANS activities, accomplishments, and issues of concern since the previous MRBP meeting (March 2020). Member updates should be submitted to MRBP@MICRArivers.org by Friday, September 3^rd. 

Dates: October 5-7, 2021

Location: Ellington Hall Auditorium, Reelfoot Lake State Park, 2595 Hwy 21 E Tiptonville, TN 38079

Agenda: A REVISED draft meeting agenda is here.

SCHEDULE UPDATES:

1. Thanks to our host state, there will be an optional fish fry on Tuesday evening following the coordination meeting. The expected cost to attend the fish fry is $10. We will collect for the fish fry at the meeting.
2. We have been able to arrange for a 2-hr guided pontoon boat tour of Reelfoot Lake with the state park. This will be a sunrise tour that is scheduled to begin at 7:00 am on Thursday morning. The cost to participate is $20 and will be collected at the meeting. Registration will be required for the boat tour.
3. We will not be planning any organized events for Wednesday evening so that everyone will have the opportunity to explore the area and take advantage of other opportunities provided by the state park and National Wildlife Refuge.

Registration: Please click here to register for the meeting by Friday, September 3^rd. Registration is not required to attend the meeting; however, your registration will help us to plan for meeting logistics which my potentially include an evening social and/or a local field trip. We understand that most attendees will need to obtain travel approval and your plans maybe tentative, but we ask that you register as soon as possible to indicate your plans. Your registration information can be updated as necessary if your travel plans change. Please contact MRBP@MICRArivers.org if you would like to register for the meeting or need to make changes to your registration after September 3rd.

Lodging: Many lodging options are available in and around the state park. Meeting attendees will be responsible for making their own lodging arrangements. The park has two campgrounds with RV and tent campsites. Reservations can be made through the park website using the link provided above. There are several small hotels located outside the state park and near the meeting facility. Additional options, including national hotel chains, are available in Union City, TN, approximately 30 minutes east of Reelfoot Lake State Park.

Transportation: Meeting attendees will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements, however the MRBP will assist in coordinating transportation for those in need. Reelfoot Lake State Park is approximately 2.25 hours north of Memphis International Airport; 3.25 hours west of Nashville International Airport; and 3.5 hours south of St. Louis International Airport. If you are driving or renting a vehicle, please consider helping transport other meeting attendees flying to the meeting.