At the mouth of the Mississippi River lies the Gulf of Mexico, which is where the mighty river ultimately flows and where one will find the delta or final destination of the river itself. This is a place full of history, culture and beauty and of course, the final destination of this long and winding natural phenomenon. The Mississippi River is the second largest river in the United States, second only to the Missouri in volume. It’s source is Lake Itasca in Minnesota and its final destination is a whopping 2,320 miles (3,734 kilometers) away in the Gulf of Mexico.
The journey of the Mississippi River is one full of bends and dives through ten different states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. This meandering journey through numerous towns, cities and states form some of the most fertile lands that are found not only in the United States, but in the world. This is all thanks to the enormous and varied deposits of sediment that the river has left on its path, deposits that have flooded parts of the countryside, leaving behind all-important heavy metals and fertility. Areas of Louisiana’s delta, formed from the regular deposits of sediments from the Mississippi, are among world’s richest with claims of 40-bushel per acre corn yields yearly.
The sheer volume of sediment found in the Mississippi have led scientists and researchers to ponder how it is generated and by what process. The answer for this lies mainly in the contributions from other rivers flowing down from the Appalachian Mountains, into the Ohio River, and then into the Mississippi itself. The numerous main contributors of sediment and flow are the Missouri, Arkansas, White and Red Rivers and countless other tributaries contributing and creating an impressive amount of power and energy, effectively and constantly replenishing the river with new sediment.
No matter how many tributaries contribute to the Mississippi, it will always only have one final destination, the Gulf of Mexico. It’s there that the river deposits the largest portion of sediment, the most of any river on earth, creating what is known as the Mississippi Delta network – the “mouth of the river.” This Delta creates a lagoon of sorts and connects the Gulf of Mexico to the larger and deeper part of the continent. The oval shape of the Delta and the extensive coastal wetlands created by the river’s flow and sediment deposits form some of the most beautiful wetlands in the United States.
The wonders created by the Mississippi are far more than just a natural treat; they all offer benefits beyond the eye candy. Because the banks of the Delta form some unique land formations they are perfect to build, protect and reinforce human infrastructure like ports, canals, reservoirs, etc. And these landforms also improve and add to the complex but productive ecosystem that supports life in the area. This is one of the main reasons that the wetlands of the Mississippi are so nourished and valued by the countless birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians that rely long-term on the Delta and its surroundings.
Risk Management and Recreational Activities
The significance of the Delta is not only about its beauty, its ecosystem and its purpose for building infrastructure and preventing erosion; it is also about managing the risk related to its potential flooding. This potential inland flooding is very common in its region and it occurs due to intense and heavy rainfall in the Mississippi’s watersheds area. The effect of this type of flooding depends significantly on the man-made activities local communities do in its surrounding areas.
The flooding incidents caused by the Mississippi also control the type of recreational activities people can do in its waters. White water rafting, canoeing, kayaking and other types of water sports can be found in the Mississippi’s rivers and streams, however, the risks associated with these activities depend on the speed of the river and its currents, which can be affected by flood conditions. Other man-made activities such as fishing and camping are also regulated due to the local wildlife and the potential risk of damage to the environment.
Unambiguous Heritage
Traditions, legends and stories of the Delta can be told for an eternity, these are normally related to folkloric Gods like the Ganges, or big events like the Civil War, but at the same time, the Mississippi Delta plays a big role in the unquestionable culture of the US, from country music, southern blues, jazz and of course, the Cajun-Creole culture and gastronomy. Without this enigmatic river, the Southern US would not exist as we know it.
The Mississippi has also been key to the economic evolution of the US. Oil and Gas extraction are only two of the countless resources derived from the adventures down the Delta, and the never-ending ecotourism activities arise from the impressive beauties that inhabit the Gulf of Mexico, prove that the Mississippi Delta is still much more than a story of a never-ending rivers.
The Ambiguous Future of the Mississippi
The effects of human activities on the environment can be extremely damaging even in places where it is unintended and unpredictable. The Delta is no exception. In spite of the regulations imposed to protect the area, traditional farming practices vary significantly, damaging the soil, water and current wildlife in the region. In addition, the consequences of activities from all over the US, from rain patterns to extraction of resources, have already inflicted immense damage upon the Mississippi Delta.
Nowadays, scientists and researchers all over the country focus on studying and understanding the connection between the Delta and the current US climate. These scientists, most with vast experience in studying climate change and its effects, have co-created the Mississippi National River and Recreational Area in order to protect, conserve and recycle the resources found in the Delta, hoping to ensure its survival beyond the damaging effects of human activities.
The Negative Effects of Academic Conversion
Climate change and industrial development are some of the main culprits behind the losing battle of the Delta and its resources. Not only are human activities causing the Mississippi Delta to suffer and deplete, but industrial advancements are also one of the main reasons behind why the Delta is beginning to flood faster and more powerfully, according to Zachary Smith, a professor at Delta State University. Smith argues that some of the worst enemies of the Delta include river engineering projects like dams and canals and other ports which have caused the flooding of an area longer and bigger than the Mississippi itself. These projects slow down the Mississippi and its natural flow, making it unable to dischargesediments and other materials.
In addition to the floods, which accelerate due to the structure of the Delta and its geography, other disastrous effects are that of rapid erosion and intensive land conversion, where rigorous observations and studies are needed as to how and where this type of activity will be conducted without causing damage to the Delta’s ecosystem.
Fighting for Sustainability in the Delta
The Delta is slowly gaining attention from the public and some of the most renowned academic circles not only in the US, but in the world. Solutions for the sustainability of the Delta and its surrounding areas are arising from all sides, activists, researchers and even businesses, who seek to find an appropriate way to make the Delta’s destiny collaborative for the betterment of its resources and its people.
Restoration plans from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Mississippi National River and Recreational Area are seeking to take action in order to save the Delta And its resources not only from human damages but also from the effects of global warming and other types of weather disturbances. The use of the Delta’s remaining soils, sediments and flood tolerance is also being studied and used in order to restore the area’s wetland and its ability to control flooding.
These efforts, however, will never be enough without the collaboration of local and international communities that depend and protect the Delta, which is why sustainability initiatives like the Mississippi Delta Sustainable Development Expertise Network (MBTN) are seeking to increase awareness and collaboration globally on the issue. These organizations strive to introduce, discuss and recognize any present and future threats to the Delta in order to promote its sustainability for many years to come.
