Introduction
The Mississippi River stands as one of the most iconic US landmarks, cutting an imposing figure and providing one of the defining landscapes of the United States of America. It is renowned for its 2,348 miles of winding waters, taking in 10 states from the Midwest to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s hard to imagine what lays beyond the tumultuous waters of the Mississippi River, but the answer is both multi-dimensional and fascinating.
What Borders The Mississippi River
First and foremost, the Mississippi River borders a series of states. Without necessarily being on the river, these states are considered part of the Mississippi River drainage area. This includes Arkansas, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Each of these states provides a unique set of opportunities and character to the landscape and the interaction between the Mississippi River and each of their diverse terrains.
The river itself has historically been seen as a key economic power, and it has and continues to provide a foundation for the transportation of goods and people. This is not just nationally, but throughout the entire region in which the river flows. The natural elevations and incline, along with the tributaries, allow the movement of goods along the river as well as across it, opening up possibilities that are both economically and socially beneficial.
The Mississippi also encompasses iconic cities, such as St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans and Baton Rouge, allowing for a diverse range of experiences and opportunities for those who traverse or observe the Mississippi River.
Environmental Impact
The Mississippi River is of the utmost importance in terms of the ecological systems that it encompasses and sustains. It’s a vibrant and varied ecosystem rich with biodiversity, providing a home to several key species and organisms.
It’s also a key migratory path, with several birds and other animals relying on the habitats at all points of the river for their sustenance and shelter. The river is not just the home for a diverse range of living organisms, it’s a lifeline and a resource.
However, this fragile balance is under threat from a range of human development and practices. From water diversion to shipping and from air pollution to excessive fishing, the Mississippi River is a resource that is subject to the influences of mankind.
This has meant an additional change in the landscape, which has disrupted some of the ecosystems and caused a cascade of changes that call into question the very stability of the Mississippi River watershed.
The Role of Governance
The potential damage to the Mississippi River has led to a strategy of protective and preventative measures. Governments and different state entities have come together to create various regulations, policies and initiatives to combat the looming threats.
For example, the Clean Water Act is a US federal law that seeks to regulate the discharge of pollutants into surface waters such as the Mississippi River. It defines regulations on the types of chemicals and processes that are able to be pursued, with the outcomes being judged on both the short and long term impact of any decisions.
There is a need to have a rationale that balances the economic needs of the Mississippi River with environmental preservation. To combat this challenge, the government has engaged in a program to both inform how resources are used from the river, as well as encourage people to view sustainable practices as the best option.
Mississippi River Wildlife
The Mississippi River is home to a wide range of species of wildlife, including a selection of birds, mammals and reptiles. It’s one of the country’s most iconic national parks, the Lower Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge, which was established in 1980 in Tennessee.
The refuge consists of more than 2,900 acres of wetlands and hardwoods, providing a vital habitat for a wide range of birds and other animals, including ducks, geese, bald eagles and songbirds. The refuge also serves as important breeding grounds for a range of species, making its preservation and careful management that much more important.
It serves as an important source of food and a migratory path for these animals. It is their many shared needs and the resulting heightened levels of interdependency that form the basis for the need for extensive resource management.
River Management
In terms of human interaction with the Mississippi River, navigation and navigation rights are the main activities. The Corps of Engineers are in charge of controlling that, with the main aim being to maintain the level and flow of the river in order to ensure that safe navigation is possible and that commercial activities can be supported.
It also works with the private land owners around the Mississippi River, as well as managing erosion control, flood management and recreation areas. The management of the river is key in shaping the riverside landscape and guaranteeing a future for the Mississippi River.
Unprecedented Changes
The Mississippi River has recently seen unprecedented changes to its landscape, wildlife, and population. An extreme drought throughout the watershed has caused rapid drops in river levels, leading to unprecedented levels of erosion and disruption.
This has cause historic sites such as Venice, Louisiana to be cut off from the mainland completely, with the extended effects of the Mississippi erosion threatening thousands of homes and disrupting livelihoods.
The drastic measures put in place, such as the closure of the Bonnet Carre spillway
to divert the flow of the water, have varying effects on the environment, from the disruption of ecosystems to the potential for a slow flood in some areas.
The Local Fauna
The state of the river itself has been impacted by the changes brought about to the local fauna. The Mississippi sturgeon, Muskellunge, and paddlefish all inhabit the Mississippi River, with the latter two being especially threatened by the recent drops in water levels.
The ecosystem of the Mississippi River is a diverse one, with variations along the length of the river and hotspots of activity at different points throughout. The changes to this fundamental level of the environment along with the increasingly threatened larger species have left the fauna in a precarious situation, with their future unclear.
Industry on the Mississippi
The impact of industry on the Mississippi River is an ongoing concern. Industries such as shipping, oil, logging and agricultural practices all use the river, but can potentially have an adverse effect if access to the river is not rigorously regulated.
The lesson from this industry is to emphasize the importance of conservation and awareness of the environmental impact of any activity on the Mississippi River. It is a delicate and valuable ecosystem deserving of our protection and respect. This is exemplified in the successes of actions like the Clean Water Act, which has had a positive effect on the health of the river.
Impact of Climate Change
As a result of human activity, climate change is impacting the Mississippi River in innumerable ways. This is most evident in extreme weather events such as hurricanes, flooding, and drops in river levels, but there are less measurable changes that cause an ongoing series of damages to the ecology of the Mississippi River.
The effects of climate change on the environment of the Mississippi River are yet to be fully understood and measured, with some estimates of the effects being stated as potentially catastrophic in the near future. The impact on the community and industry of the river should not be understated, as the presence of extreme weather events, flooding, and drops in river levels can have a drastic effect on all those dependent on the Mississippi River.
Education and Understanding
The main way to ensure the continual health and prosperity of the Mississippi River is to ensure access to education and the understanding of the issues that confront its health. This means educating people on the facts around pollution, over-fishing, and the impact of human activities alongside the effects of climate change.
This education shouldn’t just be focused on environmental awareness, it should center around responsible use of the resources available, so that people have the capability and knowledge to use the river without compromising its long-term health and integrity.
The cause of protecting the Mississippi River is shared between all who depend on it. Through the implementation of practices to both prevent the potential for negative outcomes and strive for sustainable use for the commercial industry, it is possible to go about maintaining a healthy and abundant Mississippi River.
Mississippi River Communities
The communities that surround the river provide a unique set of challenges and sources of change and repair. There is an ongoing need for sustainable practices that cause minimal disruption to both the ecosystem and the livelihoods of people around the Mississippi.
Involving the communities around the Mississippi River is key to this process, as they have both direct knowledge of the importance of the river and a vested interest in the outcomes. This means that the communities in the Mississippi River watershed have become increasingly empowered and able to actively manipulate and inform the outcomes of the resource management process.
Engaging with the communities has shown a marked improvement in not just the health of the river, but the social and economic wellbeing of those who live around it. This has been most effective in areas where government has had the most effect, instead of burying their head in the sand, they have instead consult with those communities to create a shared vision for the river.
Economic Impact
In addition to the impacts on the environment, the Mississippi River has an undeniable impact on the economy of the United States There is considerable investment in the Mississippi, with the Port of New Orleans being one of the busiest ports in the US.
The Port of New Orleans is a prime example of how an economy has flourished around the Mississippi River, with a shipping route that takes in a variety of goods from not only the US, but from around the world.
In terms of transportation of people, The Mississippi has also been the catalyst for several key historical events, such as the start of the steamboat age, and the immigration of Europeans to the US during the 19th century.
Long-Term Sustainability
The future of the Mississippi River relies on a balance between environmental protection and economic sustainability. It is imperative that we look to the future, not just in terms of the current effects of our activities but also the potential for future generations to reap the benefits.
Conservation has become a key tool in this process, with preservation of the land, and thoughtful interaction with the water, becoming key processes for achieving the desired outcomes.
The goals of each of the processes must be contemplated thoroughly before being implemented, with long-term results being taken into account before any ventures take place.
Conclusion never
