; and (B) 3 regional research centers, each of which shall be based out of a host institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 )), of which— (i) 1 shall be an Upper Mississippi River Research Center located in the region from the headwaters of the Mississippi River to the confluence of the Mississippi River with the Missouri River; (ii) 1 shall be a Middle Mississippi River Research Center located in the region downriver from the confluence of the Missouri River to the confluence of the Ohio River; and (iii) 1 shall be a Lower Mississippi River Research Center located in the region downriver from the confluence of the Ohio River to the Gulf of Mexico. (3) Functions The functions of the research centers established under paragraph (1) shall be— (A) to conduct scientific research on the MRRRI focus areas described in section 127(c)(2) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act; (B) to consult with and advise relevant Federal agencies on— (i) the improvement of programs that monitor water quality in the Mississippi River Corridor and the health of the Mississippi River Corridor habitat or the establishment of such programs, where necessary; (ii) the impact of projects and activities carried out under the MRRRI; and (iii) any additional goals, priorities, metrics, and research objectives proposed as part of the science plan described in subsection (c)(2)