ENVS 101: Mississippi River Pollution - Solutions and Analysis

This presentation focuses on the significant environmental issue of Mississippi River pollution. It begins by outlining the river's importance and the sources of contamination, including industrial and agricultural runoff, and thermal pollution, highlighting the detrimental effects on both human health and aquatic ecosystems. The presentation then proposes solutions such as imposing restrictions on industrial and agricultural activities and controlling recreational and commercial activities. A detailed cost-benefit analysis is provided, assessing the economic and social impacts of these solutions, including employment loss, agricultural production, and tourism. The benefits include control of pollution, protection of human and aquatic life, and sustainable development. The presentation concludes with recommendations for more action-oriented policies, comprehensive nutrient control programs, continuous water quality monitoring, and soil erosion control to mitigate pollution and promote sustainable management of the Mississippi River. The document also provides a list of references used.

Mississippi River Pollution

Introduction
 Mississippi River is one of the major riverine systems in the
world in terms of size, diversity of habitats and the biological
productivity.
 It has been the lifeblood for the Crescent City for over 100
years. However, since last few years its water has been badly
contaminated which has endangered the health and livelihood
of the communities supported by it.
 Mississippi River is the 3rd worst waterways among the top 50
waterways which contains toxic elements that causes cancer.

Continued…
 The thermal pollution caused by the industries operating in the
nearby areas of Mississippi River has also affected the quality of
its water.
 The contaminated water of Mississippi River has not only caused
harm to human lives but also the aquatic habitats have been
impaired significantly.
 Agricultural run-off is also one of the major reasons of pollution at
Mississippi River as the agricultural practices in US has led to high
nutrient loadings at the river which has caused algae blooms over
the water surface.

Solution to water pollution at
Mississippi River
The solutions to the problem are could be:
 Imposing restrictions on undertaking of industrial as well as agricultural
activities around Mississippi River areas could certainly reduce the
nutrient pollution in the river. The nutrient discharge from the sewage
treatment plants and farm-fields to the river water makes it polluted to a
great extent. The regulators of agricultural sector of US must also
restrict the use fertilizers at crop-fields. The excessive loading of toxic
nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from Mississippi river has
led to the formation of Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Continued…
 The other solution that could help in controlling the pollution at
Mississippi Water could be the restrictions on the entry of
animals to the river areas, termination of recreational activities
in the river water and commercial fishing activities in
Mississippi River. All these activities adversely affects the
quality of the river water..

Cost Benefit Analysis
Costs Associated with both the solutions:
Restriction on Industrial and Agricultural activities:
 Loss of employment opportunities.
 Loss of agricultural production.
 Negative impact on economic development of country.
 Cost involved in implementation of such solution such as formulation of
regulatory provisions.
Restriction on Recreational or fishing activities and animal entries:
 Loss of tourism leading to loss of revenue generation.
 Harm to animal survival
 Economic Losses on account of termination of fishing activities.
 Loss of foreign exchange generation.

Continued…
Benefits Associated with both the solutions:
Restriction on Industrial and Agricultural activities:
 Control on thermal pollution caused due to excessive industrialisation.
 Control on excessive utilisation of fertilisers at crop-fields.
 Control on nutrient pollution which damages the quality of water in river.
 Protection of human and aquatic life as water is the essential source of
living for such creatures (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, 2018).

Continued..
Restriction on Recreational or fishing activities and
animal entries:
 Protection of water quality from getting degraded further.
 Prevention of discharge of disposal of unhealthy elements
in water such as animal wastage etc.
 Protection of overall eco-system of Earth
 Sustainable development of the country by making prudent
use of natural resources (Myers, 2017).

Recommendations:
 More action oriented policy and strategy must be
formulated to control the pollution at Mississippi River.
 The Mississippi River Basic States shall move more
decisively in the direction of comprehensive program that
controls nutrients flow at the river, continuous monitoring
the water quality at the river and the institutional
collaboration agreements (Myers, 2017).
 Soil erosion must be controlled by ways of installing the
grass waterways, terraces and use of conversation tillage
could significantly reduce the rate of soil erosion.

References:
 Babcock, B. A., & Kling, C. L. (2015). Costs and benefits of fixing
Gulf hypoxia. Iowa Ag Review, 14(4), 4.
 Environmental Studies. (2013). Pollution on the Mississippi River.
Retrieved from:
https://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/programs/environmental/cou
rses/seniorseminar/2013/students/newcomer.php
 Miara, A., Vörösmarty, C. J., Macknick, J. E., Tidwell, V. C., Fekete,
B., Corsi, F., & Newmark, R. (2018). Thermal pollution impacts on
rivers and power supply in the Mississippi River
watershed. Environmental Research Letters, 13(3), 034033.
 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. (2018). Sediment reduction
strategy | Minnesota River Basin and South Metro Mississippi
River. Retrieved from:
https://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/sediment-reduction-strategy-min
nesota-river-basin-and-south-metro-mississippi-river
 Myers, J. (2017). Mississippi River starts clean, heavily polluted as
it runs south. Retrieved from: Retrieved from:
https://www.lakeforest.edu/academics/programs/environmental/cou
rses/seniorseminar/2013/students/newcomer.php