Mississippi River deemed most endangered river in U.S., conservation group says

A conservation organization has named the Mississippi River as the the majority endangered river in the country Every year the advocacy group American Rivers publishes a list of the U S rivers it considers the greater part at hazard Topping this year s list is the Mississippi which provides drinking water for million people It supports agriculture and industry and is home to more than species of fish and wildlife It also has major historical and cultural significance provides a transportation highway for shipping and recreational opportunities for tourists boaters and anglers The group says the Mississippi faces numerous threats including increased flooding and inadequate accident prevention and response It cites current cuts to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and earlier calls from President Donald Trump to abolish the agency We cannot turn our back on Mississippi River communities or the vitality of the river millions depend on at this critical time when they need unified direction instead of uncertainty at the national level Mike Sertle central region director for American Rivers announced in a news release Flooding hasn t been a issue along the Minnesota stretch of the Mississippi this year But the river faces other challenges including trash from agriculture explained Whitney Clark executive director of Friends of the Mississippi River All that water flowing off of our agricultural landscapes is carrying pollutants he noted It s carrying sediment It s carrying nutrients Clark stated farm drainage systems have exacerbated flooding and corruption We have millions and millions of cropland acres that are plumbed to move water off the fields as hurriedly as manageable to keep the plants growing he stated Planting cover crops helps prevent erosion and nutrient runoff that ends up in the Mississippi Clark commented The University of Minnesota s Forever Green Initiative is working to develop winter oilseed crops that keep the soil covered year-round and can also be turned into sustainable fuel Other foreseen threats include aging dams and a proposed underground nickel-copper mine in Aitkin County which Clark commented poses risks to the Mississippi and St Croix River watersheds Related Articles Your clothes are shedding bits of plastic Here s what people are doing about it this Earth Day years after Deepwater Horizon oil spill lawsuits stall and restoration is incomplete Proposed NOAA cuts put Great Lakes research safety at threat experts say Minnesota environmental nonprofits join forces for Earth Day fundraising event The return of an extinct wolf is not the answer to saving endangered species experts warn