The Mississippi River is one of the most iconic rivers in the United States and is admittedly one of the most important ones too. Spanning over 2,320 miles (3,734 km), the Mississippi River is the fourth longest in the world. It is definitely hard to imagine a world without the iconic and beautiful body of water, but believe it or not, it has dried up before.
In 1858, the Mississippi River faced one of its worst disasters in its long and likely flooding history. The damaging floods which occurred in the year prior left the land heavily saturated with water, making it almost impossible for it to take on any more.
This would mean that when the infamous drought of the year hit, there was much less water than usual in the Mississippi River. The drought caused the major tributaries of the Mississippi River to stop flowing into it and the volume of the water in it drastically reduced.
The reaches of the river turned shallow and sand bars emerged as the water level dropped. Cotton prices saw a severe reduction as the transport of goods slowed due to the dried up beds. This was also a struggle for the wildlife as they missed out on the main source of nutrition and the ecosystem consequently deteriorated.
No more than ten years later, by 1867, the Mississippi River was back to its right course, but the effects of the huge economic depression were still lingering over the state. Experts claim that the repercussions these lack of water had on the banking industry, the policies, and the security of the people around the area were immense.
However, by the turn of the 20th century, the standard of living seemed to have recovered from the dry blow of 1858. The re-emergence of the mighty Mississippi River was marked with the building of large-scale levees and canals that prevented flooding and dried out beds of the river during summer such as the one in 1858. These levees and canals were meant to control the flow of water and protect the banks from flooding and thus resurrected the delta’s ecosystem.
Repercussions of Drying Up
The potential drying up of the Mississippi River is a worrying idea for many. While natural disasters that result in a massive decrease in water volume are one concern, the potential to man-made technology are the other. Just the slightest adjustment in the levees or canals could potentially dry out the Mississippi River for years and cause serious damage to the environment and economy.
Experts are of the opinion that the effects of the river drying up are far greater than the effects of flooding. Not only would the human impact be greater due to rising prices, decrease of transportation and livelihoods being taken away, the effects on the ecosystem would be severe as well. Ecosystems thrive on diversity and when the river runs low, then that leads to removal of vegetation, soil erosion and a decrease in the fish (food) population in the rivers.
Requirements for the River’s Water Flow
The general rule of thumb to protect the Mississippi River from drying up is to uphold certain levels of water flow so that the delta’s ecosystem can continue to thrive. The steady water flow is essential for the heavy sediment load needed to build the nourishment of the delta wetlands and for the propagation of fish and other aquatic animals as well.
The continuous water flow is also necessary for the flows for navigation, sediment movement, water supply and power generation. When the river stops flowing, vessels are often made to unload their cargo on its banks so that the dry riverbed is not damaged by the weight of the vessels.
Role of Rainfall
Rainfall is a major factor in controlling the Mississippi River’s water levels. If it is severe and heavy, then it would result in a river rise and prevent its drying up. Too little rain, however, would pose a threat as the water flow in the river slows down.
Water engineering has greatly helped to boost the resilience of the river in times of drought but that does come with a cost. WWF (World Wildlife Fund) suggests building new floodplains to widen and expand the river to retain more water.
In addition to this, more attention should be given to the water’s quality. When the river is dry, bacteria can survive longer in it and lead to more severe health risks during times of draught.
Regulations in the Area
The government of Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee—where the Mississippi River begins—have come to an agreement to exercise complete control over the volume taken out of the river. To achieve that, they must introduce more regulations and treat them as sacred.
At present, if the river runs low, then the Mississippi and Louisiana authorities (among the rest) are given the control of the water’s distribution. That is why it is so essential for them to manage the water in the most effective ways possible.
The states are also in charge of maintaining the facilities used for holding and controlling the water. Without these facilities, it would be practically impossible to protect the Mississippi and its wildlife from drying up.
Actions for Preventing Drying Up
The river can be protected from drying up by taking a few steps such as better management of the water, careful release of water from the tributaries and constant monitoring of the water levels by the government.
Additionally, the reforestation of lands and conservation of the remaining natural ecosystems help to provide more consistent water and vegetation around the river. WWF even suggests that by restoring more wetlands, the floodplains and by introducing more restoration projects, the river can be brought back to life.
Impact of Urbanization
Urbanization is a growing temptation for many states, but it can also be the cause for the drying up of the Mississippi River, too. Construction of real estate near the river breaks up the natural course of the river and adversely effects the current water dynamics.
In order to bring a natural balance and prevent the risks of the Mississippi River from drying up, the state must implement regulations that dictate the construction of buildings around the branches of the river.
Strong efforts to curb industrial pollution, agricultural and urban runoff, and the expansion of our cities help to keep the water’s quality in check. Advanced monitoring systems that are able to detect contamination, help the government to respond in time to any problem and save the river from possible drying up.
Changes in the Water Flow
The Mississippi River and its tributaries are constantly changing, and even if they don’t experience a dramatic decrease in water levels, they may still face occasional minor changes.
For instance, if the temperature around the river and its dams consistently drop, the water will not be able to flow properly through the beds and thus it cannot reach its full potential. This is why it is important for the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Tennessee to constantly monitor the water levels and to implement necessary changes.
Conversely, if water recycling initiatives are put forward and water is brought from upstream, then the delta is less likely to face drought issues.
Global Warming Impact
In today’s world, global warming is causing several changes in the Mississippi River. High temperatures are leading to an increase in the evaporation of water from the delta and a decrease in the water levels coming from upstream.
With the water levels decreasing and the weather becoming warmer and drier, the river goes through more severe risks than before. It is important to note that global warming is having an especially strong effect on the river’s tributaries and that it is thus important to keep a check on them as well
Because of the increasing temperatures and the effects of global warming, the United States will likely experience more draughts in coming years as the water temperature rises in areas such as the Mississippi. As a result, certain critical ecosystems may experience negative effects due to less water availability.
Climate Adaptation Strategies
The US government has introduced numerous strategies to help its citizens cope with the constant changes in the climate. Furthermore, the government has plans for a better management of water resources by introducing the True Cost of Water Report.
This report evaluates and assesses the costs associated with water shortages, pollution, and associated losses and damages. In addition to this, the US is also creating new strategies to handle the rising sea levels.
Climate-adaptation strategies such as constructing barriers and dams, monitoring of water levels and the establishment of special ecosystems are all steps in the right direction to counteracting the threat of Mississippi River drying up.
