The Mississippi River is one of the most iconic rivers in the United States, stretching from Minnesota all the way down to Louisiana. Spanning over 2,300 miles and making up the eastern border of 10 US states, it is one of the most important waterways in the country. However, confusion often arises from the fact that Texas is not one of those 10 states; which leads most to ask – does the Mississippi River run through Texas?
The answer is a definite no, the Mississippi River does not run through Texas. The river may bend near Texas’ northeastern border, but its route never enters the state. Despite this, the river is important to the Lone Star State in several ways. The Mississippi River Basin links to Texas in the form of tributaries, the Red River and Trinity River are the two main rivers linked geographically to the Mississippi River. In addition, the existence of the river is important to the state’s economy.
The Red River, which features a path from Oklahoma to Texas and is considered a reservoir for floodwater in the southern Great Plains, is the most well known of these tributaries. It provides many Texas cities such as Dallas, Fort Worth, and Wichita Falls with a dependable water supply for agriculture, industry and municipal use. The Red River’s value to Texans was proven during the numerous floods in recent years, in which it prevented the waters from higher basins from going downstream and causing greater damage.
The Trinity River, which links up with the Brazos River, is another major tributary to the Mississippi Basin. The Brazos serves as a transportation route for over 1000 barges of petroleum and petroleum products to the Gulf of Mexico every year. This route significantly boosts economic activity in Texas, and provideing the oil provides an economic lifeline to those who rely on it despite the obvious environmental dangers.
As Professor William R. Hunt of the University of Houston remarks, “the proximity of the tributaries to Texas influence its economic activities, especially in the energy and agriculture sectors. Without the Mississippi River, and the tributaries that link to it, Texas would have lost a huge chunk of revenue”.
Of course, the presence of the Mississippi River also offers Texans more than just economic benefits – it is also a source of leisure, supplying a number of water-based activities such as fishing, swimming, and boating. Furthermore, the Mississippi River has allowed for a number of sight-seeing activities, particularly those related to its rich and diverse bird life, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage. So, even though the Mississippi River does not run through Texas, it does provide Texans with a number of benefits that would be difficult to do without.
Soil Erosion in Texas
The absence of the Mississippi River in Texas may be a blessing in disguise. Soil erosion, which is a phenomenon that affects certain areas of Texas annually, occurs when the topsoil of a certain area is carried away by the wind or by water. If the Mississippi River were to run through Texas, it could create greater soil erosion issues than the parts of Texas currently suffer from.
There are a number of factors associated with soil erosion. Rainfall is perhaps the biggest factor, as it is the primary cause of most erosion. Additionally, rivers and oceans are known to drastically reduce soil fertility as they can alter the land’s composition and washing away much of its nutrients. The Mississippi River, and its frequent flooding, would undoubtedly increase soil erosion, making it more difficult for Texans to use the land.
Environmental Impact
The environmental impact of the Mississippi River is tremendous, but it is not felt in the same way in Texas. Despite the impacts posed by the Red and Trinity rivers, the absence of the Mississippi River keeps Texas from facing the worst of the environmental devastation.
Oil spills pose the biggest threat to the environment of the Mississippi River, and Texas is not as exposed to them as other states are. The Gulf Coast, Louisiana, and other states that the Mississippi River runs through have borne the brunt of these disasters, and are saddled with the responsibility of cleaning them up. Seeing as the Texas coastline is not directly exposed to the Gulf of Mexico, it is not as heavily affected by these oil spills and can more easily manage the effects.
Professor Marcy L. Nell of the University of Texas remarks, “The lack of the Mississippi River in Texas keeps the state out of the path of the worst environmental disasters in the world. It also means that Texans can enjoy the natural beauty of their state without the constant worry of being affected by Gulf Coast pollution.”
Floods and Hurricanes
Even though the Mississippi River does not promote soil erosion or oil spills in Texas, its presence is still felt in the state. Its major floods and hurricanes, like the Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927, often traverse the states of Louisiana and Texas, leading to destruction and other calamities.
A prime display of this effect was the storm surge of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, in which waters up to 15 feet high swept places like Louisiana and Texas. Though both states’ respective coastlines were damaged, the damage was far greater on the Louisiana side due to the fact that the Mississippi River cutoff and the river’s multiple channels directed even more storm surges to the coastal parts of Louisiana than Texas.
This is why having a natural barrier, such as the Mississippi River, between Texas and the Gulf Coast is beneficial to the state. This barrier keeps the state from much of the destruction that those further downriver have to deal with.
Climate Change
In recent years, climate change has been an exceedingly relevant topic as the threat of global warming looms ever closer. One of the most potentially devastating effects that climate change is feared to have on the Mississippi is a rise in sea level. As the world gets warmer, glaciers and other large areas of ice melt and add more water to the ocean. With the Mississippi not running through Texas, the southwestern state is spared much of the damage that sea levels can bring.
The rising sea levels could cause floods, inundating homes and businesses. These floods could displace communities, put lives in danger, and further damage ecosystems. While this possible outcome should still be a concern for Texans, they can be consoled somewhat by the fact that they may not face such a thing as much as other states do.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Mississippi River does not run through Texas, and this has both positive and negative implications for the state. On one hand, Texans are spared the threat of soil erosion, oil spills, and flooding caused by sea level rises. On the other hand, the tributaries of the Mississippi River ensure that the state remains connected to the greater river basin, granting Texans access to more resources than what they would have otherwise.
