Mississippi to Mexico

Scientists now understand that the lack of oxygen is related to high amounts of nitrogen in the water. Since 1950, farmers have drastically expanded their use of nitrogen-based fertilizers. In the past, there was a buffer of wetlands between the farmland and the river. But because most of the nation’s wetlands were drained to create more farmland, all the farm fertilizer now finds its way into the Mississippi, and eventually into the Gulf.

The problem with all that nitrogen in the Gulf is that it encourages algae growth. The algae consumes all the oxygen in the water, making it impossible for other organisms to survive. According to a new report from Ohio State University, the only way to save the Gulf is to restore the wetlands. Ohio State University professor William Mitsch says that had wetlands remained, they would have been able to convert the nitrates from the fertilizer into atmospheric nitrogen, which is harmless.

In 1998, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration asked Mitsch to come up with a plan to save the suffocating Gulf. Mitsch’s strategy focuses on restoring tens of millions of acres of wetlands and forests to the banks of the Mississippi. Mitsch estimates the project could cost up to $26 billion. While Mitsch admits that is an expensive undertaking, he points out the Everglades restoration project in Florida is costing $8 billion and only involves 1.4 million acres of land.

Mitsch warns that if the Gulf continues to receive this much nitrogen, it could have dire implications for the fishing industry, the ecosystem, and the surrounding economies. If the wetlands and forests are restored, Mitsch says it will take several years before the Gulf shows signs of improvement, but he is confident the Gulf can be saved.