The mighty Mississippi River holds an esteemed place in American history. Snaking its way through 10 different states, it’s considered the fourth largest river in the entire world and feeds into the Gulf of Mexico. Most visitors to Mississippi’s banks are familiar with the east’s prime position, but what many don’t know is that located in the east of the Mississippi lies a tributary even more impressive in size and significance.
The Atchafalaya River is a natural outlet for the Mississippi’s overflow or ‘natural spillway’, and is situated largely within the state of Louisiana. Spanning 140 miles long and potentially as wide as 30 miles wide, the Atchafalaya River is the largest swamp in the United States and a direct connection to the Old River Control Structure, the primary means of water regulation between the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers.
A major source of divide between the two rivers is how the Atchafalaya dangerously threatens to swamp the Mississippi. The Old River Control Structure works to actively stem the tide of the Atchafalaya, but its relatively recent construction in 1963 has only somewhat addressed the threat of Atchafalaya taking over its bigger brother.
The potential threat of the Atchafalaya surpassing the remarkable Mississippi is an issue that has both environmental and economic consequences. Experts have highlighted not only the environmental implications involving the alteration of the Mississippi’s current but also the potential losses of fisheries, port infrastructure and jobs associated with them.
Louisiana’s wetlands are a major economic game-changer for the region and this could be even further compounded by the damage some fear will be caused across the region due to the floodwaters from the Atchafalaya. Gulf shrimpers and the fishing industry in general could be impacted in negative ways should the two rivers alter their natural course.
It is clear that the Atchafalaya is indeed a powerful companion to the mighty Mississippi and its economic and environmental implications must be taken seriously.
Impact on Native American Tribes
The Atchafalaya River is well-known for its lasting impact on native American tribes. Alongside their historic links to the river, certain tribes possess such a strong familiarity of its lower regions they’ve adopted highly specific nicknames for its many tributaries.
The close connections to native tribes have also been instrumental to their economy, especially when it comes to seafood as the river’s bottomlands and marshes provide an abundance of fresh sea life that some tribes will take advantage of in exchange for earnings.
The Atchafalaya River has been integral to the tribes’ culture and way of life for centuries, and pushing individual groups closer to extinction due to displacement from the river and its effects could prove an irreparable loss for their society and the state of Louisiana.
Protection and Preservation
The reaction to the potential loss of native tribes in the area has led to numerous calls for the protection and preservation of the Atchafalaya River and its immediate surroundings. Louisiana has taken some preemptive steps in this direction by forming the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area. The main objective of this area is to raise public awareness of the importance of the river, while also preserving its long-term ecosystems.
The National Heritage Area launched a number of initiatives to this end such as educational programs, the erection of tourist trails, and the installation of public outreach centers among others. The relative success of these projects, along with their impact in the area, has earned them praise from those seeking to safeguard the river’s natural resources.
Preservation of the wetlands is also incredibly important for maintaining this part of Louisiana’s agricultural output and profits. Wetlands are an abundant storehouse for shrimp and oysters and government policies have been put in place to protect these, while also safeguarding the livelihoods of local watermen and fishers.
Rise of Ecotourism
The Atchafalaya River and its wetlands are also becoming a focal point for eco-tourism. The beauty of the river is considered second to none and it represents a major draw for outdoor adventurers searching for breathtaking vistas.
Certain areas of the river, such as the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, have established multiple walking trails enabling visitors to take in the scenery while also learning more about the history of the region. Birdwatchers are especially drawn to the site as the nearby Atchafalaya Basin is home to more than 42 species of wading birds as well as countless others.
The Atchafalaya River also holds a tremendous amount of archaeological significance and knowledge. Despite numerous colonization attempts, Louisiana is still home to several native tribes and the Atchafalaya is the location of several of their artefacts, many still perfectly intact. The everyday presence of such things allows visitors the chance to dig deep into the heritage of the region.
Challenges for the Future
The region’s future remains highly susceptible to external pressures and events, as the area is regularly subject to environmental degradations such as the frequent oil spills and river bottom-dredging operations that threaten its well-being. In addition to conservation efforts, there have also been initiatives to build weather Warning and Forecasting Model to better predict potential floods and their destructive abilities.
The potential of the region has not been lost on the authorities either, who have recently proposed the reversal of floodwaters in the Atchafalaya Basin, a move that would enable deeper navigation of larger ships and the consequent increase in trade along the riverbanks.
Erosion Control Strategies
Erosion is a further concern for the area, as the region is particularly fragile and could face accelerated deterioration should no action be taken. Coast restoration and a custom-made plan to diversify the Atchafalaya wetlands family has been proposed. The plan includes manual planting of vegetation and new trees, along with constructing berms in select locations.
In order to protect the river from further degradation, officials have also began to revisit the idea of creating a final stop for the Atchafalaya’s overflow, set in a dried-up low area. This could further reduce the risk of ecological and environmental damage in the region and provide overarching protection for its surrounding areas.
What’s certain is that the Atchafalaya River is an important tributary to the Mississippi River, and its potential risk and impact have just recently surfaced. What is needed now is a unified strategy to protect its cultural, environment and its economic significance to the greater state of Louisiana.
Regional Policies and Programs
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has been the most active party in terms of the preservation of the river and its wetlands, partnering with other organizations to roll out a series of initiatives to this end. The Corps of Engineers is also leading a major coastal restoration project called the Joint Coastal Restoration Project, which includes numerous wetlands conservation, habitat creation and protection techniques.
The Federation of Louisiana is an additional partner that is actively offering financial assistance for wetland restoration projects, land acquisition, cultural and educational initiatives and ecological conservation and the recent opening of a number of educational centers for the general public is seen as central to its mission.
Other important stakeholders include conservation groups and local communities, who have collectively pushed for the governments to take long-term measures and regulations to better protect the river and its ecosystems. This includes the implementation of tighter regulations on the use of fertilizers, which have had an adverse effect on the already delicate ecosystem.
River Water Quality Monitoring
River water quality is also constantly being monitored, with reports such as the Atchafalaya Water Quality Monitoring Program showing pollutant level decreases in certain areas of the river, while simultaneously highlighting areas in which they have dangerously risen due to certain agricultural runoff and wastewater discharges.
The monitoring program has also proposed revised regulations regarding access to the river and its wetlands family, monitoring human and machine activity accordingly. This includes taking a more stringent stance in allowing water activities on a closer basis as well as dismissing requests from firms wishing to build motorized recreational and industrial vessels.
The importance of the Atchafalaya River to the surrounding areas and its impact on the environment and local economy cannot be understated. Its protection is not only important for the aid it provides to the Mississippi River, but also as a vital source of natural beauty, food, and culturally significant artefacts that have been part of the region’s history for centuries.
