What is the Mississippi Alluvial Plain?
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain starts in southern Illinois at the meeting of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers and extends over 1000km through parts of Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana to the river’s mouth at the Gulf of Mexico (United States Geological Survey). Because of the source of water and the deposition of sediment, the soils in this region are nutrient-rich. The forest wetlands of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain are one of the most productive inland ecosystems in North America (The Nature Conservancy). In addition, this ecosystem includes the largest continuous system of wetlands in North America (Arkansas Wildlife). This allows for providing important habitat for fish and wildlife. It is also a major bird migration corridor during fall and spring migrations (EPA). The southern floodplain forest had potential for natural vegetation, but much has been cleared and drained for cultivation (Arkansas Conservation Center).
This ecoregion covers approximately 141,895 km2 and was approximately 49% agriculture, 19% wetland, 16% water and 10% forest in 2000. It is a mostly flat, level, agriculturally dominated alluvial floodplain. The climate of the region is mild in the winter and hot in the summer with average temperatures increasing from north to south. The precipitation of the region also increases from north to south with a mean annual precipitation range of 1,100 - 1,550 mm (United States Geological Survey).
The historical state of the ecosystem:
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain was covered with 24 million acres of bottomland deciduous forests, swamps, bayous and rivers (United States Geological Survey). This was the largest expanse of forested wetlands in North America. Not only were there numerous vegetation, but it was also full of life. Still existing today, the lower Yazoo River Basin, which covers more than 1.1 million acres, is the largest remaining bottomland forest in the Delta (The Nature Conservancy). This area is the home to black bears, songbird species, game species, and special species such as the alligator snapping turtle, pallid sturgeon, interior least tern, and rock pocketbook mussel (The Nature Conservancy). Black bears, especially, were widespread and common in the bottomland hardwood forest of the Mississippi River before the arrival of European settlers in the early 1800s (The Nature Conservancy). These bears provided a source of food, fur, and oil to the Native Americans, explorers, and settlers during the 17th century. Today, only 4.4 million forested acres remain and are mostly in small, degraded patches (The Nature Conservancy). Peak tree clearing started in the 1940s and continued into the early 1970s which allowed for agriculture to dominate the Mississippi Alluvial Plain (United States Geological Survey). Currently, the northern and central parts are highly cropped. Most popular are soybeans, rice, and cotton. In addition, aquaculture is important, and catfish production is the leading product (United States Geological Survey).
What are Bottomland hardwood forests?
A bottomland hardwood forest is a swamp or deciduous forested wetland (Arkansas Conservation Center). The Forest is made up of different species of Gum, Oak, and Bald Cypress which have the ability to survive in these areas that are covered with water. These lowland forests grow along river bottoms, and tend to flood during the rainy season (Arkansas Conservation Center).
Bottomland Hardwoods are important because they reduce the risk and severity of flooding to downstream communities by providing areas to store floodwater. Also, bottomland hardwoods improve water quality by filtering and flushing nutrients, processing organic wastes, and reducing sediment before it reaches the river (Arkansas Conservation Center).
The current human impacts on the ecosystem:
The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is largely impacted by humans. Because of the Mississippi River and the fertile soil, humans rely on this ecoregion for many needs. As rivers have been leveed, dredged straightened, drained and diverted, their natural flood cycles have been disturbed and their channels have become less stable (The Natural Conservancy). In addition, because of agricultural practices, runoffs of herbicides and pesticides make it difficult for animals and plants to survive in the area (The Natural Conservancy). The amount of water and the quality of it have been affected because of human impact. Also, for about one hundred years, beginning with the first Swamp Land Act in 1849, the federal government provided incentives to states and landowners to reclaim, or drain, bottomland forests for agriculture or development (Arkansas Conservation Center). In addition, the remaining small, spread out forested areas, which are homes to various species, make it hard for animal species to survive. Animals such as the Louisiana Black Bear require large, undisturbed forests to live (The Nature Conservancy).
Furthermore, humans use the Mississippi River to develop and expand the nation. Starting back in 1705, the first cargo was loaded with 15,000 bear and deer hides and were brought downstream from the Indian country around Wabash (now states of Indiana and Ohio) to ship to France (Army Corps). In addition, the invention of the steamboat in the early 19th century brought a revolution in river commerce (Army Corps). The Mississippi River is important in that it is the main river of inland navigable waterways. It is about 12,350 miles long (Army Corps). The popularity of using the Mississippi River is shown by the increase in waterborne commerce from 30 million tons in 1940 to almost 400 million in 1984 (Army Corps). Also, the river is used for recreation such has vacationing and traveling (Army Corps). Even 300 years ago, humans impacted on this ecosystem.
United States Army Corps of Engineers: Impacts on the Mississippi Alluvial Plain
Affecting the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, the Army Corps has devised a project called the Mississippi River & Tributaries (MR&T) Project. This project’s object is to control floods (Army Corps). According to their plan, the four major elements of the MR&T are: levees for containing flood flows, floodways for the passage of excess, channel improvement and stabilization, and tributary basin improvements for major drainage and for flood control (Army Corps). These levees have separated much of the river and its habitats from the rest of the water flow (EPA). Also large river channel dredging projects, which are also responsible by the Army Corps, remove silt and sediment buildup from the river channel to aid the navigation along the river (EPA). Dredging is an underwater excavation (Army Corps Education Center). These impacts on the natural river flow contribute to the decrease of sediment mobilization and the alternation of the delta formation at the mouth of the river (EPA). In addition, these man-made disturbances contribute to the distress that species have in this ecoregion because their natural habitat is impacted by humans.
The likely future prospects for the ecosystem:
The likely future prospects for the Mississippi Alluvial Plain look positive. Restoration and protection seems to be a priority to environmental agencies and non-profit groups. For example, the government agencies and conservation groups are making it a priority to restore and protect the area of Arkansas that covers 10% of the bottomland forests in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain because Arkansas has the largest potential for reforestation (Arkansas Conservation Center). In addition, the Natural Conservancy, a non-profit group, partners with public agencies, private landowners, businesses and organizations to restore land. They are working with Delta National Forest and several Wildlife Refuges to improve the quality of land. For example, The Nature Conservancy planted trees and reduced erosion and nutrients in waterways in the Yazoo National Wildlife Refuge, which will improve the area for plants, animals, and communities (The Nature conservancy). Furthermore, the Conservancy worked with the Bear Education and Restoration group to get government funding to restore 7,950 acres of privately owned bottomland hardwood forests and forested wetlands, which will provide much needed habitat for the Louisiana Black Bear, game species, and migratory songbirds (The Nature Conservancy). Seeing the success of the Conservancy, there is a positive outlook on the overall future prospects of the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. Not only will the focus be on restoring the forest, but also improving water quality for fish will likely be achieved.
Although the future prospects look good for the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, one cannot forget the ongoing human impacts on this ecoregion. Man power will disturb the natural construction of the Mississippi River to prevent flooding and other natural destructions to nearby cities. Also, builders will likely plan more construction and clearing of land for cities. Especially, the importance of agriculture in this area will cause to make more room for farming. Even though environmental agencies and non-profit groups succeed in restoring and protecting this ecoregion, simultaneously other groups will cancel out their improvements. In the future, however, the positive outlooks seem to outweigh the negative impacts. Hopefully, with more public advocacy of protecting this ecosystem and its habitants within, groups such as the Army Corps and farmers will realize their impacts and change their ways of their impact on this ecoregion.
To further prove the positive outlooks, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who build levees around this ecoregion, has made a commitment to the environment by abiding by a set of “Environmental Operating Principles” (Army Corps). These principles apply to their decision-making and programs. It ensures to the public that the engineers will practice conservation and preserve the environment at their construction sites. This shows us that the Army Corps takes into consideration their impact on the environment and that they are taking measures to achieve environmentally friendly solutions. According to their website, the Environmental Operating Principles are consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Army Strategy for the Environment with its emphasis on sustainability, environment and community, and other environmental statutes, and the Water Resources Development Acts that govern Corps activities (Army Corps). Below are the Army Corps’ “Environmental Operating Principles” taken from their website.
The Principles: (Army Corps)
o Strive to achieve environmental sustainability. An environment maintained in a healthy, diverse and sustainable condition is necessary to support life.
o Recognize the interdependence of life and the physical environment. Proactively consider environmental consequences of Corps programs and act accordingly in all appropriate circumstances.
o Seek balance and synergy among human development activities and natural systems by designing economic and environmental solutions that support and reinforce one another.
o Continue to accept corporate responsibility and accountability under the law for activities and decisions under our control that impact human health and welfare and the continued viability of natural systems.
o Seeks ways and means to assess and mitigate cumulative impacts to the environment; bring systems approaches to the full life cycle of our processes and work.
o Build and share an integrated scientific, economic, and social knowledge base that supports a greater understanding of the environment and impacts of our work.
o Respect the views of individuals and groups interested in Corps activities, listen to them actively, and learn from their perspective in the search to find innovative win-win solutions to the nation's problems that also protect and enhance the environment.
What can be done to improve (or maintain positive) human impacts on the ecosystem :
Spreading knowledge about the Mississippi Alluvial Plain will greatly improve the human impacts on this ecoregion. People take for granted the natural environment surrounding them. If more people know the importance of preserving this ecoregion, then there will be a greater chance of them taking the initiative to make a difference on protecting their environment. People are able to demand the government to put forth stricter regulations and pressure federal groups such as the Army Corps and farmers to lessen their impact on this ecoregion. People cannot assume that non-profit groups such as the Nature Conservancy will do all the work. Citizens must also voice their opinions and contribute to the effort to improve human impacts on the ecoregion. For farmers, it will be beneficial for them to practice organic farming or at least use less pesticides and herbicides so to prevent the runoff into the river. Builders should be mindful of where to construct buildings in order to not disturb the peace of the wildlife habitat. Although humans will continue to impact this important ecoregion, there are certainly ways to improve human impacts on the Mississippi Alluvial Plain. The first step, however, is to be educated about this ecoregion. J
References
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