The Mississippi River is one of the world’s great river systems, a naturally-formed tributary that rises in northern Minnesota and flows south to the Gulf of Mexico, connecting 31 American states in between. As vast a region as it is, the Mississippi River basin is fed by a number of significant rivers whose origins stretch far into Canada, Arkansas, and the beginnings of the Rocky Mountains.
The most prominent river in the Mississippi’s meandering course is the Missouri River, the longest tributary of the Mississippi. The Missouri River begins in the Rocky Mountains, as streams and creeks join together and filter south and east through the Great Plains before flowing into the Mississippi River in Missouri. A number of other important tributaries enter the Mississippi further south in Arkansas and Mississippi.
The Arkansas River begins in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and winds some 1,400 miles east and south to Arkansas, where it meets the Mississippi and adds its hefty volume of water. It is the second longest tributary in the Mississippi’s river system, and it flows through some of America’s most fertile agricultural soils on its route from the Rockies to the southern plains.
The third major river to flow into the Mississippi is the Ohio River, which originates from western Pennsylvania and empties into the vast Mississippi at its confluence with the Illinois River near Cairo, Illinois. Tracing a course along the Ohio-Kentucky border, the 1,000-mile river is one of America’s most important commercial waterways, a populous highway linking the country’s largest cities and industrial districts.
For all three rivers, their role as sources of major tributaries to the Mississippi River carries historical significance and economic profit. The Missouri River, in particular, has been an important artery of discovery and transportation, offering Native Americans and later European explorers a shortcut to the mountain passes in the west and exemplifying the possibility of life on the continent’s vast, arid plains.
Though the total drainage area of the three rivers is vast and still growing, the Missouri and the Ohio Rivers in particular have faced a number of human-caused problems in recent years, including agricultural impacts and industrial pollution. The latter has had a number of serious and wide-ranging consequences, from water shortages and contaminated drinking water to the death of aquatic wildlife. In recent years, however, a number of conservation projects have been undertaken to address these issues, though more is almost certainly needed.
Environmental Impact of the Three Rivers
The degree to which human activity has impacted the environment of the three rivers flowing into the Mississippi has been dramatic and far-reaching. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, several activities associated with agriculture – such as irrigation, fertilizer application, large-scale crop production, and urban development – have resulted in an increase in nitrate levels and other pollutants throughout the Missouri’s watershed.
In the Ohio River Valley, the presence of large industrial facilities, agricultural activities, and urban centers has led to elevated levels of pollutants, including heavy metals and chlorides, in the river and its tributaries. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment inputs from agricultural operations have likewise taken a toll on the river’s ecosystems.
Moreover, the Arkansas River has experienced numerous adverse affects from the presence of human activity. According to a survey by the Arkansas Nature Conservancy published in 2019, pollution from human sources has resulted in a dramatic decrease in fish populations since the 1980s and a degradation of the river’s overall water quality.
Conservation Efforts
In response to these risks, numerous conservation and restoration projects have been launched to improve the water quality of the three rivers. The largest effort by far is the Missouri River Recovery Program, a partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the state of Missouri, and other organizations that aims to restore the health of the river’s ecosystems.
In the Ohio River Valley, the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO) has been active since its establishment in 1948. The Commission takes a multi-pronged approach to water quality and watershed management, including the implementation of regulations and ordinances, the development of permitting and enforcement programs, and the establishment of conservation efforts.
At the local level, the Arkansas Nature Conservancy and other environmental organizations have been working to restore fisheries in the Arkansas River watershed by reducing urban and industrial runoff and restoring native species. Other organizations, such as the Arkansas Wildlife Federation and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, also focus their efforts on sustaining the natural legacy of the river.
Communities and Rivers Connection
In addition to the environmental consequences of human activity, the three rivers are significant economic and cultural assets to the communities in the towns and cities along their banks. According to the Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, the Mississippi River has a positive economic impact of over $350 billion dollars in goods and services every year, many of which are related to the businesses, ports, marinas, recreation, and other activities carried out on the rivers.
The significance of these rivers is also reflected in the cultural legacy of the communities along their banks. Some of the towns along the banks of the Missouri have been in existence since the early 1800s, and the culture and heritage of their residents is deeply intertwined with the life of the river. Likewise, the towns and cities along the Ohio River boast bustling ports and cultural scenes that reflect the presence and interaction of different communities over the centuries, from Native American tribes to present-day Midwesterners.
In the Arkansas River Valley, many of the communities are rural, and the river is an important source of sustenance and recreation for the people that inhabit the area. Whether they are fishing, boating, or simply admiring the beauty of the river, the role of the Arkansas River in the spiritual and economic life of the people of the river valley cannot be overstated.
Economic Development
Sustaining the three rivers as sources of potential growth and prosperity is an important challenge for policy makers and business owners alike. As sources of water and transportation, the rivers have become major sources of economic development in the states and cities that they run through. This is particularly true of the Mississippi and the Missouri, whose robust shipping industries and agricultural products have made them economic powerhouses in the region.
The economic benefits of the Ohio River, meanwhile, are largely derived from the presence of the numerous ports, industrial centers, and agriculture production located along its banks. According to the Ohio River Basin Energy and Environment Program, the river is utilized for transportation by more than 600 companies, with 20 million tons of goods utilizing the river’s resources annually.
The Arkansas River has also experienced an economic resurgence in recent years, with several river-related exploration, retail, and recreation projects launched and more in the planning stage. According to the Arkansas River Development Foundation, the river is now one of the most vibrant economic centers in Arkansas, with the potential to attract even more development in the years to come.
Politics and Social Issues
In recent years, the three rivers have become increasingly politicized and controversial. Issues of water usage and access, pollution, and public safety have sparked heated debates in the legislatures, courts, and on the streets of the states through which they run. These debates have been particularly visible in the Missouri River Valley, where disputes over water allocation and urban development have generated high tensions between local and state governments.
The Ohio River Valley has seen its fair share of social and political turmoil due to similar disputes over water resources, with the closure of two major coal plants in 2018 and multiple lawsuits filed against the state government by environmental groups. In the Arkansas River Valley, meanwhile, criticism of the agricultural industry’s impacts on water quality has led to heated debates over the state’s water laws and regulations.
The three rivers are more than just sources of potential economic growth; they carry with them the social, political, and cultural legacies of the communities that call the valleys of these rivers their home. As the states and cities that the rivers feed and sustain grow, these issues will be ever-present, and the decisions made in the coming years will have lasting impacts.
