Background Information
When a person lands in any unknown place, it could be quite intriguing and scary. This holds especially true for when a person lands in the middle of the Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is a 2,350 mile long river that runs through the United States, starting near Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and reaching the Gulf of Mexico through ten states. The river has not only been a prominent place for transportation, but it has been a dwelling place for many wildlife species allowing it to have its very own ecosystem.
Relevant Data and Perspectives from Experts
The Mississippi River is divided into two sections, the upper Mississippi and the lower Mississippi. The upper Mississippi has three navigable branches namely the Illinois, Missouri and Ohio Rivers. The lower Mississippi is somewhat more interesting, being extremely influential for many local corporations. It is also the major shipping route for the agricultural industry and serves a significant role when it comes to transporting grain and other commodities.
However, the river can be quite dangerous when it comes to swimming and navigating, as the currents can be quite strong and treacherous. Reports about the floods, taking place in the lower Mississippi, occur frequently during the spring months.
Dr. Margaret Stewart, a river ecologist, claims that “upstream cities, towns, and municipalities often determine the condition of the river downstream.” She also explains that the urban sprawl of New Orleans and other industrial cities, have had adverse effects on the fish and wildlife populations of the river, wiping out entire species over time.
Insights and Analysis
Losing its native fish and species, the Mississippi is prone to an immense number of pollutants, the most concerning being pharmaceuticals and the overflow of the populations caffeine and antibiotics. All of these contaminants end up in the water, not just affecting the natural habitats and ecosystems along the Mississippi, but also taking its toll on the people drinking from it.
The people living in counties surrounding the Mississippi have faced significant cancer risks from the air, soil, and water. High levels of arsenic and other metals have been discovered in the local vegetation, which means that the water is not safe to drink.
It’s also worth noting that statistically, the Mississippi has more drownings than any other river, so it should be crossed with utmost caution. Boating, although considered a source of leisure, can also be quite dangerous on the Mississippi. Many people have encountered accidents due to the fact that the river can be quite crowded and polluted, adding to the risk of capsizing or running into something.
Health Implications
The Mississippi River has long been a butt of environmental pollutions and the implications are mainly health-related. For example, water that is polluted with heavy metals like mercury and lead may have a negative effect on the developing foetus of pregnant women, causing a host of potential neurological disorders.
Also, the presence of pharmaceuticals in the river creates further problems for people. Pharmaceuticals can combine with other substances, creating new, hazardous substances. One of the more well-known instances of this was seen in 2018, when traces of ciprofloxacin were detected in the water. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic typically prescribed for treating urinary tract infections, and can be highly dangerous to the local wildlife. Additionally, pharmaceutical-resistant bacteria can also spread to both land and aquatic life, causing a series of health hazards.
Norms and Laws
When dealing with enough pollutants to threaten the entire aquatic wildlife, the government must take a firm stance against it. The US government introduced the Clean Water Act, which requires that every state must abide by certain guidelines and also have established sewage systems to minimize the pollution, generate electricity, and change water quality.
Still, due to the size of the river and the number of factors adding to the pollution, the law has had limited effects initially. That being said, the law has made a clear statement, with several fines and penalties issued out to those not complying with regulations.
But despite this, nearby cities and municipalities continue to dump untreated wastewater into the Mississippi. The extent of the damage will take some time to unravel, but regardless, a special attention must be paid to potentially hazardous chemicals such as oil spills and industrial pollutants.
Environmental Movements
Environmental activism movements are often a necessary and effective measure for the protection of natural resources, especially in the case of such an extensive river as the Mississippi. For example, The Sierra Club was quite successful in pushing forth a law that would limit industrial runoff into the river.
Furthermore, environmental groups have advocated for the protection of wildlife and fish, and employees have been sometimes spotted in riverside areas. There have also been important projects such as the Gulf Dead Zone and the Green River Project, the main goal of the latter being to restore the river back to its natural state using natural methods.
Legal Battles
Many people will fight for the conservancy of their environment, and the people in Mississippi are no different. Unlike most states, the Mississippi River is held in trust by the federal government for the benefit of Mississippi citizens, so the state cannot sell or lease any part of the water. The history of this is quite complicated, with a long-time struggle between different states, who often take legal action against one another, to gain rights to the Mississippi.
Cases like the so-called “border war” have gone all the way up to the Supreme Court and resulted in the drawing of multiple, hefty fines. The tension that these land disputes create can often be seen in the news, and are usually accompanied by threats of violence and other forms of intimidation.
Overall, this legal tussle between states is a cautionary tale, one which should be taken into consideration when it comes to protecting resources of this magnitude.
Economic Implications
The balance between commerce and nature usually has to be held up economically. When it comes to the Mississippi River, it provides invaluable revenue for the state by taking part in various activities such as fishing and tourism.
The economic impact of the river tends to depend on the scope of the pollution, with most of it being felt by those who rely on the river for their living. Any malpractice, such as dumping toxic waste in the river could result in a drop in local incomes, as fishing activities become hindered.
At the same time, many corporations use the river as a means for transportation, carrying their goods downstream quickly and cheaply. Thus, it can be argued that industrial regulation is paramount when it comes to preserving the lifestyle of those living near the river.
Social Issues
The implications of the Mississippi Rivera aren’t just environmental; they are also social in many ways. Most of the people living near or around the river are usually tight-knit and rely heavily on the river for their income. When the level of pollution in the river increase and the fish and wildlife disappear, this can have catastrophic implications for the people living there.
Furthermore, these people are often denied access to resources they should have access to, such as healthcare and education. This further contributes to the cycle of poverty, indirectly caused by the river’s pollution.
In conclusion, those living around the Mississippi Rivers often lack the necessary infrastructure and knowledge for protecting their local resources, and thus should be educated and assisted in any ways possible.
