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The Mississippi River is one of the most polluted rivers in the world. Water from 31 states, or 41% of the United States, drains into the Mississippi River, carrying high levels of nutrients, agricultural runoff, and chemical dumping. This pollution has a significant impact on the Gulf of Mexico, creating a 'dead zone' of hypoxia, or very low oxygen in the water, which results in the death of marine life. The Mississippi River also contributes to ocean pollution, with trash and plastic pollution from across its large drainage basin ending up in the ocean. While pollution from cities and towns has decreased, human activities continue to impact the river's water quality, with sedimentation and toxic chemicals remaining issues.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause of pollution | Agricultural runoff, rainfall or snowmelt moving over the ground, picking up natural and human-made pollutants |
| Pollutants | Fertilizer, silt and sand particles, PCBs, heavy metals |
| Impact | Hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico, filling up of important fish habitats, covering up spawning grounds |
| Contributing factors | Large human populations with poor waste management systems, lack of regulation and enforcement of laws such as the Clean Water Act |
| Efforts to reduce pollution | Mayors along the river committed to reducing plastic and trash, litter analysis conducted by researchers and environmental advocates |
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What You'll Learn
Agricultural runoff
Dead zones are areas with low levels of dissolved oxygen, which can lead to the asphyxiation and death of marine life. In the Gulf of Mexico, a dead zone forms each summer due to the combination of excess nutrients from agricultural runoff and the seasonal stratification of Gulf waters. This area, devoid of life, runs along the Louisiana and Texas coastlines, with water at the bottom containing less than two parts per million of dissolved oxygen.
The Mississippi River Basin, which includes the river and its tributaries, covers more than 40% of the land area of the contiguous United States, a significant portion of which is farmland. This vast agricultural landscape contributes to the river's pollution through fertilizer runoff and animal waste from livestock operations. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs), for example, generate large amounts of animal waste that can be improperly stored or applied to crop land, ultimately washing into waterways.
To address this issue, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested that states along the Mississippi River develop Nutrient Reduction Strategies. These strategies aim to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loading into surface waters and include initiatives such as limiting pollution in stormwater runoff, improving enforcement of CAFO regulations, and implementing conservation practices to reduce soil erosion. Additionally, the MRC Agriculture Group focuses on reducing nitrogen and phosphorus pollution in the Basin's waters by providing recommendations for cropland and livestock operations.
The challenge of regulating agricultural runoff pollution lies in its nature as a non-point source, making it more difficult to control compared to point source pollution. Nevertheless, efforts are being made to improve water quality in the Mississippi River and reduce the ecological and economic impacts of agricultural runoff on the ocean, specifically in the Gulf of Mexico.
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![Pollution of Illinois and Mississippi Rivers by Chicago Sewage (1907) [Leather Bound]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61FbOFgXaEL._AC_UY218_.jpg)
Poor waste management
The Mississippi River is a major waterway that flows through the central United States, carrying with it a significant amount of waste and pollution. Poor waste management in the areas surrounding the river contributes to the pollution that eventually makes its way into the ocean.
One of the leading causes of water pollution in the Mississippi River is agricultural runoff. The river traverses hundreds of miles of adjacent farmland, and the fertilizer runoff from these areas contains high levels of nitrates. These nitrates have been linked to the creation of dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico, where the river empties into the ocean. Poor waste management practices in agriculture, such as improper disposal of fertilizer and manure, contribute to this pollution.
In addition to agricultural runoff, trash and plastic pollution are also significant issues in the Mississippi River. A recent study logged about 80,000 litter items in and around the river during the data collection period. Plastic was the top material found, comprising 75% of the total trash. This includes items such as plastic bottles, bags, and even personal protective equipment like masks, which can take up to 10 years to decompose. Poor waste management in the communities along the river, including a lack of recycling programs and inadequate waste disposal infrastructure, contributes to this pollution.
The impact of this pollution extends beyond the river itself. Trash and pollutants from the Mississippi River can end up in the Gulf of Mexico and ultimately, the ocean. This pollution has far-reaching ecological consequences, affecting marine life and the health of our planet's waters.
To address these issues, there have been efforts to improve waste management practices in the regions surrounding the Mississippi River. City-specific projects are being implemented to reduce plastic pollution, including providing funds to underserved neighbourhoods for initiatives such as installing water-filling stations and developing recycling programs. Additionally, there is a growing recognition that education plays a crucial role in reducing waste. Curricula focused on recycling and proper waste management practices are being developed for schools, with the understanding that raising awareness and changing behaviours at a young age can have a significant impact on the health of our planet.
While these steps are encouraging, there is still much work to be done to address the poor waste management practices that contribute to the pollution of the Mississippi River and, ultimately, the ocean. It is essential to continue advocating for improved waste management practices, stricter regulations, and increased environmental awareness to protect our planet's waterways for future generations.
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Fertilizer and nitrate pollution
The Mississippi River is a source of pollution for the ocean, with agricultural runoff being one of the leading causes. Fertilizer and nitrate pollution are significant contributors to this issue.
Fertilizers are essential for farmers to increase crop productivity and yield. However, if excess fertilizers are applied, they can move into the ground and surface waters, becoming a major source of nutrients in rivers. This is a particular problem in the Mississippi River Basin due to the high concentration of agriculture in the area. When fertilizers are over-applied, they can contaminate nearby water sources, leading to nutrient-rich water that can harm the ecosystem.
Nitrate is a nutrient compound that poses a problem in the Mississippi River system. High nitrate concentrations can have toxic effects on humans, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established drinking water standards to protect public health. Nitrate also represents an ecological problem as it accumulates in the Gulf of Mexico, leading to potential eutrophication. The increase in nitrate concentration in the Lower Mississippi River over the years has been attributed to the rising use of fertilizers.
Time-series data from April 1991 to April 1992 estimated that the Mississippi River discharged about 900,000 metric tons of nitrate into the Gulf of Mexico during that period. This has significant ecological implications, as the Gulf of Mexico experiences hypoxia or a "dead zone" due to excess nutrients from the Mississippi River. The high levels of nitrate in the river contribute to the depletion of dissolved oxygen in the water, creating an inhospitable environment for marine life.
To address fertilizer and nitrate pollution, proper fertilizer application is crucial. This includes conducting soil tests to determine the need for fertilizer and avoiding application during rainy periods to prevent runoff. Additionally, farmers can recycle grass clippings and leaves through mulching or composting, reducing the need for fertilizer. These practices can help reduce the amount of excess fertilizer that enters the Mississippi River and contribute to ocean pollution.
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Sedimentation and silt accumulation
The Mississippi River carries roughly 550 million metric tonnes (500 million tons) of sediment into the Gulf of Mexico each year. The Mississippi River Delta was formed over the last 7,000 years as the Mississippi River carried and deposited sediment at the mouth of the river, along what is now Louisiana's coastline.
Sedimentation has helped to bury some of the pollutants that once flowed downstream from the Twin Cities Metropolitan area. These contaminated sediments settled in Lake Pepin and were covered by silt carried by the river. Lake Pepin acts as a settling trap for silt and clay particles, and it is important to prevent it from filling in to maintain the health of the river below. The larger tributaries, such as the Minnesota River, deliver the largest loads of sediment, and much of this sediment settles in Lake Pepin.
The Mississippi River Delta is facing a land loss crisis due to multiple factors, including the leveeing of the river, which has disrupted the natural cycle of sediment accumulation. The sediment that once built up land is now lost into the deep water of the Gulf of Mexico. Efforts are being made to capture and utilize the sediment for coastal restoration, as it is a precious resource for maintaining the delta's health and vitality.
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Non-point source pollution
Agricultural runoff is a primary driver of non-point source pollution in the Mississippi River. Fertilizer application on adjacent farmland leads to nutrient loading, resulting in eutrophication. Eutrophication is the process by which excessive nutrients, particularly nitrates, stimulate the growth of aquatic plants, leading to oxygen depletion and the creation of dead zones. The Mississippi River's agricultural runoff has been implicated in the formation of giant dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico, underscoring the significant ecological impact of this pollution source.
Stormwater runoff from urban areas, such as paved surfaces and residential/commercial lands, also contributes to non-point source pollution. As rainwater flows over these surfaces, it picks up and carries various pollutants, including sediments, nutrients, and contaminants, into the river. The increase in paved areas due to urbanization exacerbates this problem, as water flows more readily over these impervious surfaces, carrying pollutants directly into the water bodies without the natural filtering process that would occur in absorbent soils.
Additionally, non-point source pollution can arise from sediment and erosion control issues, invasive species, and other factors that introduce excess phosphorus, sediment, and bacteria into the river. The Mississippi River's vast watershed, covering approximately 656,990 acres, makes it vulnerable to these diverse pollution sources.
The Clean Water Act (CWA) and regulatory bodies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) aim to address non-point source pollution. However, regulating this type of pollution is challenging due to its diffuse nature. While the CWA has had some successes, the goal of making all U.S. waters "fishable and swimmable" by 1985 has not been fully realized, highlighting the complexities of managing non-point source pollution in major rivers like the Mississippi and mitigating their impact on ocean ecosystems.
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Frequently asked questions
The Mississippi River is polluted by trash, plastic, and chemical dumping. Agricultural and urban runoff is a leading cause of water pollution, and sedimentation is also a serious problem.
The Mississippi River is a major waterway that drains into the Gulf of Mexico and ultimately, the ocean. Trash and plastic pollution from across the Mississippi River's large drainage basin can flow into the river and make their way downstream to the ocean.
The Mississippi River carries excessively high levels of nutrients, leading to eutrophication and hypoxia (low oxygen levels) in the Gulf of Mexico. The river also transports pollutants like PCBs, heavy metals, and phosphorus attached to silt particles.
The pollution from the Mississippi River has resulted in a "'dead zone'" in the Gulf of Mexico, where high rates of algal growth block sunlight and deplete oxygen levels, leading to the death of marine life.
Mayors along the Mississippi River have committed to reducing plastic and trash, and new technologies are being developed to address pollution. The Clean Water Act regulates both point source and non-point source pollution, and increased awareness has led to the passage of laws to protect natural resources.
