Environmental Good & Bad of Mississippi River
Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent and is the world’s 15th longest. The river has been taken many use and serves both the human and the environment, while they also generate the consequences to the environment.
The basin of Mississippi River brings a large portion of rainfall to the Southern U.S., and the river in turn helps to control the floods in the region and enables agriculture for the area. The river derives many of resources and ecosystem that makes the waterway and its surrounding areas of great importance.
Since a long time ago, the importance of Mississippi River has been obvious to exploit a source for navigation, recreation, and other human activities. These activities are beneficial to human and the economic development, however, pollution from human activities has become increasingly severe, leading to change the quality of the water of Mississippi River and the environment which increases many dangerous to the local animals and aquatic habitat.
To address this problem, the government development department has proposed and implemented many plan trying to revamp the waterquality of the Mississippi River. There are also some environmental groups, who have volunteered their efforts to protect the river. Some dams were also built for flood control, enabling aquatic organisms to go upstream, creating better conditions for the environment.
Unfortunately, a lot of pollutants are still transported by the river and are discharged from the cities’ sewage pipes to the water. Resulting from the displacement of natural sediment, unwise management of soil fertility and water, and the mining of hard substances, an overabundance of phosphorus pollution is unfortunately finding its way into the waterway. This leads to Eutrophication, which produces an excessive abundance of algae unable to be sustained and thus dies, nearby species may not get enough oxygen.
Moreover, another dangerous problem is contamination, which causes potential health risks to humans. Mississippi River has much more pollution than other rivers roughly because this river is huge and brings together massive loads and it also receives pollution from many sources on the river. Contamination can be caused by agricultural and landscaping, pharmaceuticals, and sewage water.
Oil Spills
The most risky and obvious pollution in Mississippi River is oil spills. This is typically caused by the ships and barges along the river. When the vessels load, unload and handle petroleum-based products and diesel fuel, oil spills occur due to the improper handling, negligence or accidents of the ships.
When these spills occur, the environment is polluted greatly as the spilled materials can flow several miles down the river and lakes. The suspended particles and biological contaminants in oil spill can speak health hazards for the public, paralyzing lake and river recreation activities, like fishing, swimming and drinking water.
It can be more serious if the oil spill goes onshore, the environment would suffer more by causing water and soil pollutants, with a longer-term recovery cycle, casualties on territorial and marine life, and inciting runoff into the groundwater.
Chemicals Hazards
Another important peril on Mississippi River stems from the chemicals. These chemical materials are routinely released by the factories, refineries and other related industries. As a result, the metals and chemicals are being discharged into the environment which lead to poisoning to the wildlife, disrupting their growth and draining the habitat.
The chemicals contained in these materials can render into the waste water and sediments and could cause long-lasting problems when the stream inflows contaminate a delta. As well, then chemicals contained in the wastewater can disable these toxic chemicals from being metabolized or degraded, increasing their bioaccumulation.
Poor Monitoring Practices
The last hazard on Mississippi River is the lack of management and implementation of plans to monitor the condition of the environment. Sadly, many organizations in the area are disregarding the significant role of the extended review in order to yield essential information about the conditions of the environment and the relevant changes.
Therefore, if these information are unavailable or not orderly used, the results in destruction of water habitats and other environment related issues will eventually emerge.
Excessive Construction
Another danger in Mississippi River is the overconstruction of infrastructures and settlements. When the river is being overdeveloped, that would result in the destruction of habitats due to the lack of spaces and wildness of the environment which affects animals, aquatic life and plants that depend on these spaces. In some areas threating the migratory species, when these species is interrupted by this urban advancement, the destruction of the biodiversity would worsen by the day.
The destruction would take place on the surface during the construction, however, it can also happen on the sub surface level. Since the new infrastructures are taking over the space of the riverbed and low lands, the water table would be disturbed which is essential for the living creatures to survive. As for humans, the shortage of water and the lack of equipped concentration could cause people to be vulnerable, leading to the corruption of the local culture.
Damming of River
Other dangers in Mississippi River comes from the dangerous in damming of river. Building a dam without taking into the cost and damage that it may cause can be very harmful to the environment, animals and aquatic life.
When a dam is built, it causes confusion in the fish breeding cycles since it affects the type and number of fish species in the river. Moreover, it also has an effect on the temperature of the water, which can become too warm for the fish and other aquatic species to thrive in.
The building of dams also affects the water flow in the rivers, as it can create turbulences and disturbances in the aquatic environment, as well as increasing the rate of soil erosion in the coastline. As the sediment is unable to flow, it will cause the river to rise in height and flatten in width.
Deforestation
Deforestation around the Mississippi River is also of a great concern. When vegetation, like plants and trees, are taken away from around the river it can cause more turbulence, since it takes away a protective layer which would otherwise absorb and slow the current down.
This can eventually increase the speed of the river, and disturb the aquatic habitats. Moreover, it can create risks of floods when the river water is not absorbed and causes the bank to rise. Similarly, the absence of vegetation and trees can cause soil erosion around the border of the river, leading to the contamination of the water.
Fishing Contribution
Fishing along Mississippi River presents both an advantage and a disadvantage. Fishing provides humans with food, a livelihood and recreational entertainment. Unfortunately, due to overfishing, some species of fish have declined, possibly affecting their reproductive success.
Additionally, water pollution, like the use of banned chemicals, can have an impact on the type and quantity of fish around the river. This can, in turn, reduce the population of riverside species which depend on the same ecosystem that the fishing activity affects.
Water Pollution
Water pollution along the Mississippi River is a contentious issue since it has been caused by both natural and man-made sources, like industries and agricultural activities. The pollution of the river is causing severe deposits of sediment, biocides and other chemicals, causing death to many of the aquatic life.
It is particularly more detrimental in the downstream points, since the pollutants that accumulate can potentially reach bigger bodies of water, affecting wildlife and plant life living in the same environment.
Additionally, water pollution can also affect humans. Contaminated waters can present health hazards to local communities that may depend on it for drinking and cooking. When micro-organisms are introduced into the water, it causes a serious disruption in the ecosystem that may cause illnesses or disease to humans.
