Leaders from two different river commissions in two different parts of the world — the Mississippi River Commission and the Mekong River Commission — are hoping to learn from one another.

“Science doesn’t know international or political boundaries, so there’s lots of great science that’s happening in that part of the world and in our part of the world that we can certainly share,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Walsh, president of the Vicksburg-based Mississippi River Commission.

Both organizations manage water resources, all while facing challenges related to extreme floods, increased demand for water, climate change, hydropower development and improved trade and navigation.

On Jan. 22, in Vicksburg, Walsh had his first face-to-face meeting with Jeremy Bird, chief executive officer of the Mekong River Commission. Bird was in the United States for meetings at the State Department.

Both MRCs signed a letter of intent after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton promised before Mekong foreign ministers in Phuket, Thailand, that the U.S. would support cooperation in environmental, health and educational arenas with Lower Mekong Basin countries.

“We’ve been talking since July of last year about setting up a partnership,” said Bird.

The groups have targeted March for a decision on whether they will work together.

“These negotiations are always difficult,” said Walsh. “If it didn’t happen until May or June, that’s OK because we have such a good relationship with Mr. Bird.”

Joining Walsh and Bird in their Jan. 22 meeting downtown were Mississippi River Commission Executive Director Stephen Gambrell and senior member Sam Angel.

Bird said he hopes to gain knowledge of watershed management and new ideas for balancing environmental and engineering issues from the 131-year-old Mississippi River Commission, which was established by Congress to improve the condition of the river, foster navigation, promote commerce and prevent destructive floods.

“The rivers are similar in many cases because they’re both very large rivers — very high variations from dry season to wet season flooding issues,” Bird said. “They both have very high levels of sediment loads, which provide challenges to the systems.”

The Mekong River Commission, he said, has not spent much time doing research: “This is an area we hope to learn from the experiences with the Mississippi.”

About 30 percent of the Mekong delta, which is the rice basket of Vietnam, is predicted to go under water in 2100, Bird said. The Mekong commission needs help developing emergency precautions.

“Any system in terms of how to approach and adapt to those changing conditions is something we urgently need,” he said.

The Mississippi River Commission recommends policies and addresses flood control, navigation and environmental projects; studies and reports on changes; and conducts inspections semiannually on the Mississippi, which feeds a drainage basin that covers 41 percent of the U.S. and two Canadian provinces.

“I think Mr. Bird has a more difficult job working with four different countries to get agreement,” Walsh said. “We have 12 river states that are really involved on the Mississippi.”

The brigadier general directs the work, which is carried out by Army engineer districts at St. Paul, Minn.; Rock Island, Ill.; St. Louis; Memphis; and Vicksburg.

The Mekong River Commission sustains fisheries; identifies opportunities for agriculture and sustainable hydropower; maintains free navigation and flood management; and preserves ecosystems. The commission addresses effects of extreme flooding, prolonged droughts and rising sea levels associated with climate change.

The Mekong River Basin —  comprised of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam — came about in 1995 after the four countries saw a common interest in managing their shared water resources and developing the economic potential of the river.

“Some of these issues all but transcend some of the political problems we’ve had with water,” said Bird. “People still come together to discuss how to address these challenges with water.”

Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com