Introduction
The Mississippi River in Nauvoo, Illinois holds a crucial role in the environmental well-being of the region. Located near the Iowa-Illinois state line, the river receives runoff from a variety of sources including agriculture , industry, urban development and other human activities. Because of the high level of nutrients and pollutants that enter the river, it has been identified by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an impaired water. To understand the impact of these runoff sources on the Mississippi River in this region, it is important to explore the sources of these pollutants and how they travel to and ultimately impact the river.
Agricultural Runoff
One of the key sources of runoff that drains into the Mississippi River in Nauvoo, Illinois comes from agriculture. Fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste often enter into the river, contributing to the high levels of nutrients and pollutants. In addition to this, agricultural practices, such as the tilling of soil and the overuse of chemicals, contribute to soil erosion and further contribute to the nutrient and pollutant load that is entering the river.
For instance, tilling of soil disturbs the soil and causes loss of nutrients that are then easily transported by surface water runoff. Such practices can contribute to a wide range of environmental problems including algal blooms, eutrophication, and elevated nitrate levels. It is clear that agricultural practices in the region are having an increasingly important role in the health of the Mississippi River.
Urban Runoff
Another major source of pollutants that are draining into the Mississippi River in Nauvoo, Illinois comes from urban runoff. From roads, buildings, and other sources of impervious surfaces, runoff containing chemicals, oils, and sediments regularly enters into the river. In addition to this, chemical inputs from industrial and commercial activities also enter into the river. This results in elevated levels of nutrients and pollutants that are then transported downstream.
The level of chemical inputs from urban runoff is especially concerning. A study conducted in the area found that total dissolved solids levels in urban streams were dramatically higher than that of streams with more rural or agricultural watersheds. Such a finding underscores the important role that urban runoff is playing in the health of the Mississippi River in this region.
Elevated Nutrient Loads
The highest impact from the runoff sources that drain into the river have been on the elevated nutrient loads that the river experiences. T here have been higher levels of nitrates and phosphates observed in the river and this has caused a variety of issues including algal blooms that deplete oxygen levels in the river and harm animal life. In addition, elevated levels of nutrients cause eutrophication, where oxygen is removed from the water by the decaying organic matter leading to further degradation of the rivers water quality.
Furthermore, numerous bacterial pathogens and other contaminants are also entering into the river and as a result, the risk of swimming and fishing in the river is fairly high. The risk of swimming is especially pertinent considering there is no public beach or swimming area that provides access to the Mississippi River in Nauvoo, Illinois.
Mitigation and Management
In order to mitigate the impacts of runoff on the river, several measures have been put in place. To decrease the levels of agricultural runoff, farmers have adopted best management practices such as planting cover crops in the winter and building nutrient management plans. In addition, there has been increased effort to limit the impervious surfaces in the region in order to limit the amount of runoff and chemicals entering the river.
Furthermore, wastewater treatment infrastructure has also been improved in recent years in order to reduce the amount of nutrients, pollutants, and bacteria entering the river. These improvements in wastewater treatments and the implementation of best management practices have led to some improvement in the quality of water, however the impacts of the pollutants are still visible.
Challenges
Despite the efforts to mitigate the effects of runoff, the Mississippi River in Nauvoo, Illinois remains a highly impaired water. This is due to a variety of challenges, including a lack of resources for implementing best management practices and wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the difficulty in addressing runoff from nonpoint sources such as urban runoff limits the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
In addition, the greatest challenge of all is managing dissolved pollutants and highly mobile chemicals such as nitrates and phosphates, which require significant amounts of money and effort that is often not available in rural areas.
Conclusion
The Mississippi River in Nauvoo, Illinois is a highly impaired water where runoff from a wide variety of sources is the main cause of the water quality issues. From agriculture to urban development, runoff entering the river is causing a variety of environmental issues that are challenging to manage due to a lack of resources and difficulties in addressing nonpoint source pollution.
