Meghan Hodges
The Mississippi River and its tributaries flow through 32 US states, collecting sediment, freshwater, and nutrients from a one-million-square-mile drainage basin. The river is a significant source of pollution, with agricultural runoff carrying excess nitrogen and phosphorus from fertilizers and manure into the water, leading to a “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. This pollution affects Louisiana, with more than 200 bayous, lakes, or rivers designated as impaired waterways. While the Clean Water Act (CWA) regulates point source pollution, non-point source pollution from agriculture is harder to manage and has led to a complex problem requiring intensive management practices. Louisiana has implemented programs like the Master Farmer Program to educate and certify farmers in modifying production practices to reduce nutrient pollution. However, the effectiveness of these programs is limited, and the problem persists, impacting the environment and public health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Louisiana's natural resources | Offered economic opportunities for farmers, ranchers and forest managers |
| Supplemental fertilizers | Required for sustainable production systems |
| Non-point source pollution | Hard to regulate, biggest contributor to waterways failing to meet regulatory standards |
| Sewer treatment plants and septic systems | Need to be adequately monitored and maintained to efficiently manage nutrients |
| Waterways designated as impaired | More than 200 bayous, lakes or rivers |
| LSU AgCenter | Has environmental research and outreach programs to maintain water quality |
| Mississippi River Delta efforts | Focus on coastal restoration in Louisiana |
| Dead Zone | Forms in the Gulf of Mexico during summer due to lack of oxygen |
| Clean Water Act (CWA) | Enacted in 1972 to reclaim the country's waters and make them swimmable, drinkable, and fishable |
| Conservation programs | The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) are administered by the USDA |
| Federal and state governments | Spend approximately $2 billion annually on conservation programs in the Mississippi Basin |
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What You'll Learn
Louisiana's sewer treatment plants and septic systems
The Onsite Wastewater Program, for instance, aims to prevent untreated or improperly treated sewage from being discharged into the environment, thereby protecting the health of Louisiana's citizens. This program licenses and regulates onsite wastewater treatment system installers, haulers, sub-manufacturers, and manufacturers. As of August 2023, a total of 475,299 onsite wastewater treatment systems have been permitted, treating approximately 54,750,000,000 gallons of wastewater per year in Louisiana.
However, sewer treatment plants and septic systems can also contribute to water pollution if they are not adequately monitored and maintained. Nitrogen and phosphorus can be discharged into waterways, and in rural agricultural areas, treatment systems maintained by individual households may not be monitored frequently, exacerbating the problem. According to the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, more than 200 bayous, lakes, or rivers have been designated as impaired waterways due to nutrient pollution.
To address this issue, the LSU AgCenter has been conducting environmental research and outreach programs focused on water quality for decades. They have developed manuals for crop and animal production to help farmers protect natural resources, particularly water. Additionally, the Louisiana Master Farmer Program is a voluntary education and certification program that encourages farmers and ranchers to modify their production practices to reduce nutrient pollution in waterways.
While these efforts are ongoing, Louisiana, like its neighbouring states, continues to face challenges in mitigating water pollution. The Mississippi River Basin, in particular, has been affected by agricultural runoff, with contaminants flowing downstream and impacting the Gulf of Mexico, creating an oxygen-depleted "dead zone". The complex nature of nonpoint source pollution makes it difficult to regulate, and strong industry opposition to controlling farm contaminants further complicates the issue. Conservation programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) aim to address these issues, but their impact has been limited.
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The Clean Water Act (CWA)
The CWA's main goal was to reclaim the country's waters to make them swimmable, drinkable, and fishable. The 1972 Act aimed to make all US waters "fishable and swimmable" by 1985. While there have been many success stories, including Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, the 1985 goal has yet to be met. The CWA made it unlawful to discharge any pollutant from a point source into navigable waters, unless a permit was obtained. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses the CWA to enforce water quality regulations and implement pollution control programs, such as setting wastewater standards for industry and water quality standards for all contaminants in surface waters.
The CWA does not specifically address groundwater contamination, which is covered by other laws such as the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. However, the CWA does regulate both point source and non-point source pollution through ambient water quality standards. Non-point source pollution is much harder to regulate, and it has been found to be the biggest contributor to waterways failing to meet regulatory standards. Section 319 of the CWA implements a Non-point Source Management Program and requires greater federal leadership to regulate non-point source pollution.
The EPA issues technology-based effluent guidelines that establish discharge standards based on available and economically achievable treatment technologies. The EPA also regulates all waste streams generated from offshore oil and gas activities, primarily through general permits. The Oil Pollution Prevention regulation, published under the authority of Section 311 of the CWA, sets forth requirements for preventing, preparing for, and responding to oil discharges at specific non-transportation-related facilities.
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Nonpoint source pollution
Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution is the largest remaining type of water pollution that needs to be addressed within Louisiana and across the nation. NPS pollution is generated during rainfall events and is not discharged from a discrete conveyance, such as a discharge pipe. Louisiana's NPS Pollution Program is managed by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (LDEQ) and is a collaborative effort with many partners.
Louisiana has identified several categories that contribute to NPS pollution problems across the state. These include agriculture, forestry, urban runoff, home sewage systems, sand and gravel mining, construction, and hydromodification. The state has applied for and is receiving Section 319 funding from the Clean Water Act (CWA) to implement projects that address NPS pollution. The goal is to educate the public about NPS pollution and best management practices (BMPs) that can be implemented to reduce and control this type of pollution.
The LSU AgCenter has been working on environmental research and outreach programs to maintain water quality for decades. They have developed manuals for crop and animal production to help farmers protect natural resources, especially water. The Louisiana Master Farmer Program is a voluntary education and certification program that encourages farmers and ranchers to modify production practices and reduce nutrient pollution in the water that leaves their fields and pastures.
Agricultural runoff is one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States and is a significant contributor to the impairment of U.S. waterways. The use of supplemental fertilizers and water for agricultural irrigation can result in runoff containing soil, fertilizers, pesticides, fecal materials, and other organic materials that enter lakes, streams, and rivers. This runoff adds nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the water, leading to eutrophication and algal blooms.
While the CWA regulates both point source and non-point source pollution, the latter is much harder to regulate due to its nonpoint-source nature. This challenge is further exacerbated by strong industry opposition to regulations and a system where some government programs incentivize farming practices that contribute to pollution. Conservation programs like the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) aim to address these issues, but their impact has been limited.
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The Louisiana Master Farmer Program
Louisiana's natural resources have provided farmers, ranchers, and forest managers with numerous economic opportunities. However, the state has also faced challenges in dealing with agricultural pollution, particularly from neighbouring Mississippi. The state has implemented various measures to address this issue, including the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, which aims to educate and certify farmers and ranchers on modifying their production practices to reduce nutrient pollution in waterways.
The program provides farmers with manuals for crop and animal production, offering guidance on how to protect natural resources, especially water. It educates participants on the impact of agricultural practices on water quality and the steps they can take to reduce pollution. This includes information on efficient fertilizer use, cover crops, and buffer strips, which can help prevent excess nutrients from entering waterways.
By participating in the Louisiana Master Farmer Program, farmers and ranchers can gain recognition for their efforts in environmental stewardship. The program highlights the importance of sustainable production systems and the need to minimise the use of supplemental fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals that can contribute to water pollution. Through this initiative, Louisiana aims to empower agricultural producers to become part of the solution, reducing the nutrient load in the Mississippi River and improving water quality downstream.
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The Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative
The Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watershed Initiative (MRBI) is a program that accelerates voluntary, on-farm conservation investments and focused water quality monitoring and assessment resources in the Mississippi River watershed. The Mississippi River is the largest river in North America, flowing over 2,300 miles through America's heartland to the Gulf of Mexico. The river provides drinking water, food, industry, and recreation for millions of people and is a migratory flyway for over 325 bird species.
Elevated nutrient levels in the Mississippi River flow downstream and contribute to the Gulf of Mexico's hypoxic (low-oxygen) zone. To address these water quality concerns, the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with farmers and conservation partners to implement conservation practices proven to improve the overall health of the Mississippi River. MRBI uses a small watershed approach to support states' reduction strategies, implementing avoiding, controlling, and trapping practices to reduce nutrient flow from agricultural land into waterways and improve land resiliency.
MRBI has shown that focused water quality efforts in high-priority areas can effectively build strong partnerships, increase trust and collaboration with landowners and farmers, and increase the number of conservation systems in place. The program provides technical and financial assistance to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners. MRBI watershed activities are guided by multi-year implementation plans that document annual targets for conservation activity and related financial assistance needs.
MRBI has been successful in improving water quality in several waterways, including segments of the Cache River and St. Francis River in Arkansas and Flowers Creek in Indiana, which have been scheduled for delisting from state impaired waters lists. The initiative has also been effective in Illinois, where NRCS, landowners, and partners are working together to improve water quality.
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Frequently asked questions
Nitrogen and phosphorus from crop fertilizers and animal manure in river runoff.
Every summer, a low-oxygen area, often referred to as a "Dead Zone", develops off the Texas-Louisiana shelf as a result of nutrient-laden fresh water from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers flowing into the Gulf of Mexico.
The CWA was enacted in 1972 to reclaim the country's waters and make them swimmable, drinkable, and fishable. The EPA uses the CWA to enforce water quality regulations, and it regulates both point source and non-point source pollution.
Non-point source pollution refers to the runoff of soil, fertilizers, pesticides, fecal materials, or other organic materials from agricultural and urban landscapes into lakes, streams, and rivers. It is challenging to regulate because it originates from various sources and there is no single solution to eliminate it.
The LSU AgCenter has environmental research and outreach programs focused on water quality projects and public education. They have developed manuals for crop and animal production to help farmers protect natural resources and initiated the Louisiana Master Farmer Program to encourage farmers to modify production practices and reduce nutrient pollution.
