What is the problem with the Mississippi River Delta?
The problem is the delta's wetlands were and still are built and sustained by sediment delivered by the river. Leveeing of the river cut the tie between the sediment-filled river and its delta, stopping the cycle of new wetland growth.
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With the amounts of boats traveling and shipping on the Mississippi River, it has become polluted and is still not recovering. In fact, according to an article written by riverproject.org, the Mississippi River has been one of the most polluted rivers since the 1700's.
Stretches of the Mississippi River within the park corridor exceed water quality standards for mercury, bacteria, sediment, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), and nutrients. Unfortunately, these impairments can make the water unsuitable for fishing, swimming, and drinking.
However, the dry years of 2021 and 2022 exceeded the 1500's drought length. This means the last 22 years are the driest in 1,200 years. It's not surprising that the great rivers are shrinking.
Many popular kinds of fish including bass, bream, crappie, freshwater drum, and small catfish (less that22 inches in length) are SAFE to eat. Farm-raised catfish are SAFE to eat.
Levels are rising now but to a point where it may introduce other complicating factors. Water levels along the Mississippi River near Memphis are more than 21 feet, which is nearly a foot higher than where they were in April 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
For 7,000 years, the Mississippi River has snaked across southern Louisiana, depositing sediment from 31 states and 2 Canadian provinces across its delta. As sediment accumulated under water, plant communities began to develop, trapping more sediment and building land.
The Mississippi River is recovering from drought conditions and current and projected weather forecasts state more favorable conditions into the future.