What is happening to the Mississippi River Delta?
The Mississippi Delta is the sixth-largest river delta in the world, located in the southeastern United States, just off the coast of Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas. The Delta is formed where the waters of the 1,112-mile-long Mississippi River flow into the Gulf of Mexico forming an immense estuary along the way.
The majestic Delta is home to a wide variety of plant and animal species and is an important resource for migrating and non-migrating birds. It is an important cultural and recreational area, and it provides an important source of freshwater and sedimentation to the Gulf.
However, the Delta has been facing a host of dire environmental challenges for decades now and the situation is rapidly deteriorating. These include the relentless acceleration of shoreline erosion, irreversible wetlands losses, and the intrusion of saline waters from the Gulf of Mexico; all of which have diminished and threaten the Delta’s fragile ecosystem.
Extensive research by experts confirms that this is primarily caused by upstream infrastructural interventions along the Mississippi River, such as the building of dams and levees that alter the natural sedimentation and river flow patterns.
As a result, “the Mississippi River Delta is losing its sediment, land and wildlife faster than anyone realized,” according to Dr. Lim of the American Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. Dr. Lim estimates that the Delta has lost some 8,000 metric tons of sediment every year and-as the land subsides-an additional 162 acres of coastal marshland per year is being lost.This will have devastating long-term environmental and economic repercussions, leading to increased risk of flooding, diminished economic opportunities and higher temperatures.
Local, national, and international stakeholders have all quickly realized the severity of this situation and stepped up to try and turn the tide of what conservationists are calling ‘the slow moving emergency’ in the Delta.Governments and non-governmental organizations have inititated diverse projects such as river diversions and sediment diversions that seek to restore the natural flow of the Delta and increase its overall sedimentation rates. However, most of these projects are short-term, and conservationists are quick to point out that only structural alterations, such as the removal of dams, could reverse the long-term erosion of the Delta.
Natural Resource Depletion
The relentless erosion and expansion of the sea in the Mississippi Delta have not only depleted the soils on land, but have also reduced the main source of food for the local wildlife – the marsh grass.As the sea water intrudes, the balance of nutrients and oxygen levels shifts, leaving the marsh grass no longer suitable for the local fish, shrimp, and oyster to feed on.
The native wildlife of the Delta, such as the American Bald Eagle, turtles, snakes and various species of invertebrates have been pushed out of the Delta due to their inability to adapt to the changing climate. The loss of the wildlife has, in turn, impacted the livelihoods of the local community, who depend on the fishing industry for their sustenance.
The longer-term impact of resource loss on the environment and the local economy can be devastating.If not addressed, the irreversible damage in the Delta will likely diminish the amount of sediment and fresh water entering the Gulf, leading to warmer sea temperatures and the dissolution of the wetlands.
Environmental Impact Assessments and Mitigation Efforts
In an effort to tackle the problem before it is too late, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now conducting comprehensive environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in the Delta’s river basins. The EIAs will recommend the best course of action to tackle the issue at hand.
In the meantime, the government of the United States and various non-profit organizations are leading the way in terms of mitigating the damage in the Delta. Most recently, American Rivers and the Audubon Society announced the launch of the Mississippi Delta DOCS (Data Collection and Outreach System). The initiative seeks to build an extensive network of local volunteers and conservationists who will collect water samples and vegetation data, specifically – sediment, phosphorus, and nitrogen levels as well as vegetative coverage – in the Delta on a regular basis, in order to monitor changes in the environment.
The collected data will then be used to assess the effectiveness of mitigation efforts and inform decision-making in the future. It is hoped that this initiative will go a long way towards helping the local community, not only to preserve the Delta now, but to also ensure sufficient water supply and a healthy river system that is resilient to the effects of climate change.
Shifting the Direction of the Mississippi River
Amidst all the efforts made to save the Delta, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is leading a large-scale effort to divert up to 55% of the Mississippi River’s flow into the Mississippi Delta itself. This massive project seeks to bring much-needed sediment and freshwater to the Delta – a direct reversal of what has been occurring for decades now.
Under this multibillion-dollar effort, the water supply from the Mississippi River would be re-directed to be used to slow the rapid erosion in the Delta, as well as to nurture the local wildlife and vegetation. Such an ambitious project has been welcomed by many conservationists, but it is mired in controversies, particularly amongst shrimpers, who see the diversion as a way to take away their only source of livelihood.
Long-Term Solutions for the Delta
In order to ensure that the current environmental crisis in the Mississippi Delta is addressed in the long-term, it is crucial that the issue is tackled from an upstream perspective. Such a comprehensive effort includes a broad spectrum of stakeholders such as New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, the US government, environmentalists,and the local community.
Among some of the suggested upstream interventions are expanding existing conservation efforts, such as wetland conservation, in order to maintain the livelihoods of the local shrimp and oyster fisheries. Additionally, the re-naturalization of the river, including restoring sediment delivery, to its original course and maintaining the ecological balance of the Delta must also be a priority.
Education and public outreach are also of paramount importance. The long-term sustainability of the Delta could depend on awareness building among the local communities and their elected representatives, to ensure that their voices are heard and their interests are taken into consideration.
Conclusion
The Mississippi Delta is one of the most ecologically diverse and biologically productive river deltas in the world and is an important resource for species and humans alike.It is in desperate need of attention, and all of the stakeholders must come together to ensure that the Delta is preserved and restored for generations to come.
