{"id":13126,"date":"2023-09-26T14:30:06","date_gmt":"2023-09-26T13:30:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13126"},"modified":"2023-09-26T14:30:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-26T13:30:06","slug":"is-the-mississippi-river-running-dry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/is-the-mississippi-river-running-dry\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Mississippi River Running Dry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n The Mississippi River is an integral part of life in the United States and beyond, offering transportation, recreation, geography and more. Unfortunately, it’s no secret that the Mississippi River is running dry. Climate change, increased use and other factors have led to the river’s water levels dropping dramatically in recent years.\n <\/p>\n

\n According to a 2018 article from the World Resources Institute, river flow is “more than 15% lower today than it was during the late 19th century.” This means depleted water supply for farming, industry, tourism and more. Water levels are also decreasing along the three main tributaries which, when combined, make up the majority of the river itself.\n <\/p>\n

\n To make matters worse, environmental experts are warning that lack of fresh water could become the leading cause of death and disease in the world by 2050. The implications of a dry Mississippi could therefore be catastrophic.\n <\/p>\n

Accord to USGS<\/h2>\n

\n According to data released by the United States Geological Survey, the biggest contributor to the Mississippi River’s water loss is drought. Over the past few years, the region has seen below-average precipitation which has impacted the river’s water levels.\n <\/p>\n