Introduction
The mighty Mississippi River, with its vast and powerful waters, is the second-longest river system in the United States. It stretches from Minnesota in the north, to the Gulf of Mexico in the south. While the river traverses 10 states, its impact is most significant within Louisiana, providing access to seafood, potable water, shipping and other resources vital to life in the region. But does the Mississippi River actually pass through Louisiana? Read on to find out!
Rivers and Boundaries
The answer is yes, the Mississippi River does pass through Louisiana. We may look at a map and think of the river as a hard and fast boundary, but the waters have changed their course over time and are still subject to shifts. For example, the lower Mississippi River stretches for an additional 500 miles from the northern border of Louisiana down to the Gulf of Mexico. In this region, it serves as the dividing line between the states of Louisiana and Mississippi.
However, our modern understanding of these boundaries is based on the politics of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. In this settlement, the United States acquired 828,000 square miles of land from France. Between this land and Louisiana are the Mississippi, Red, and Texas rivers, each of which was considered a boundary. This means that within one of the 18 states the Mississippi River passes through, there were two different Louisianas.
The Mississippi River and Louisiana
To this day, the Mississippi River serves as a critical connection between Louisiana and the other states in the watershed. For its part, Louisiana has adopted an adaptive approach to water management, using natural channels like lakes, swamps and bayous to store excess floodwaters. The growth of wetlands also helps to reduce soil erosion and desertification. And even when the river floods, it supports the ecosystem by providing essential nutrients, such as nitrogen and sediment, to replenish the soil.
In addition, the Mississippi River has served multiple economic functions for Louisiana. It is the main source of drinking water for the majority of residents, and it provides transportation routes for goods and services. According to a 2017 report, the “river’s waters and lands also provide economic benefits in other ways, such as recreation, tourism, energy production, and extraction of natural resources.”
Environmental Issues
While the Mississippi River’s passing through Louisiana brings immense benefits, it is not without its risks. In particular, the river has been used to channel wastewater and other pollutants from other states. As a result, the water quality of the lower Mississippi has decreased drastically in recent years. Unregulated industrial development, along with widespread use of pesticides, has also contaminated large swaths of wetlands and lakes in the delta region.
Preservation Efforts
In response to the negative environmental impacts of the Mississippi on Louisiana, many different initiatives have been launched over the years. One such effort, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Program (LACPR), seeks to restore and protect Louisiana’s coast from erosion and subsidence, while supporting socioeconomic development and improving water-related services. Other efforts, such as the Mississippi River Delta Restoration Plan, combine wetland and habitat restoration with coastal infrastructure projects, in an effort to reestablish the infrastructure that protects the region from hurricanes and storm surges.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the answer is yes, the Mississippi River does pass through Louisiana. Throughout the centuries, it has provided the region with resources, lifestyle and economy, while also serving as a literal dividing line between the two Louisianas. Today, many initiatives are underway to help protect and restore the river, as well as its surrounding environment, from the impacts of climate change, waste and unregulated development.
Conservation
In addition to the restoration efforts described previously, many organizations and nonprofits are working to conserve Louisiana’s natural resources. Some of these groups, such as Restore the Mississippi River Delta, focus on research and data, while others are more active in their approach and participate in advocacy, public awareness campaigns and coastal cleanup events. These organizations have helped to bring attention to the threats posed to Louisiana’s wetlands and the Mississippi River, encouraging people to think about the long-term consequences of their actions on the environment.
Impact
The Mississippi River and its passage through Louisiana have had a profound impact on the state’s people, culture and economy. For example, according to a 2017 report, “at least 32,000 jobs are directly linked to coastal restoration and hurricane protection in Louisiana.” The river has also provided a scenic backdrop to some of Louisiana’s most popular destinations and attractions, such as the French Quarter in New Orleans and the Delta music scene.
Not surprisingly, the Mississippi River and associated waterways have become integral parts of Louisiana’s history and culture. Throughout the centuries, it has become a source of identity and pride for Louisiana residents, and its impact goes far beyond its geographical boundaries.
Industry
The Mississippi River’s journey through Louisiana is marked by a variety of industries and activities. From ports and maritime businesses along the Gulf Coast, to shipping, petroleum and industrial production in the central region, to fishing and eco-tourism in the Delta, the river plays a crucial role in the economic lifeblood of the state.
In fact, the energy industry alone plays a major role in the Mississippi River’s importance to Louisiana. The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that the river transports more than two billion barrels of crude oil and petroleum products annually, making it a vital conduit for the industry. In 2017, the Mississippi River was responsible for some 16 percent of all waterborne shipments in the United States, including 13.2 percent of all petroleum shipments.
Environmental Legislation
Given the growing environmental and economic threats to Louisiana, many state and local governments have passed laws and regulations to protect the Mississippi River and its surrounding ecosystems. For example, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Preservation Act was enacted to help reduce the rate of land loss caused by rising sea levels and other factors. Likewise, the state’s Coastal Management Program encourages collaboration among local and state government in the effort to protect Louisiana’s shorelines and wetlands.
Many of these efforts, however, have been limited in scope and have not had the desired impact. Moreover, enforcement of existing regulations has been lax in many instances, allowing for continued degradation of the river and its surrounding ecosystems.
