Trying to save the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River has a lot of problems now. In the Mississippi River there are mainly two kinds of problems. As I summarize it, they are adding more locks, and toxic release inventories. The Mississippi River is now called one of the most troubled rivers again. It is on the list mainly because there would be a big construction of expanded locks along the river for the barging industry (The Star Tribune, 2004). If the new 1,200 foot lock would be built, the habitats along the river would be harmed. Helping barge traffic could be beneficial for our economy, but still it makes our environment worse. According to the environmental groups the construction would cut off the food chain and destroy wetlands. Even though new locks would help the barge industry have more competitive load capacity, now it is important to think about the health of the river and even the scientist group said that it is time to do something about it. The problem is that thinking of our present benefit will cause the disaster on the river. Also, they are now not considering the result of rescheduling and coordination of shipping. Instead of destroying it, there could be a way to preserve our environment. Moreover, another problem is that, recently, the discharge of toxic chemical substances has been increased. Leesha Faulkner said, “The federal Environmental Protection Agency lists 13 industries in its report” (2004). The sector of northeast Mississippi, there are areas in which many industries gathered. They don’t care much about environmental effects of toxic releases. That is because there are not enough regulations about environmental protection from being affected by these pollutants.
Now the Mississippi River has a lot of troubles and the condition of it is impaired because there are several environmental problems that would harm the health of the river, so we need to try to handle those problems with proper solutions. Although our economy would have benefits from new locks, we should not build new expanded locks along the river, and instead of new construction, we need to find a better system of barge control. Moreover, we should consider the toxic release problem which we are now facing, make proper regulations that prevent more serious problems, and we, all of us should be informed of our environmental situations such as who made pollution or ways we participate.
First of all, we need to see the most threatening decision to make new locks along the river. Because of that, the Mississippi River is listed as one of the most troubled rivers again. It is quite obvious that new locks will ruin the habitats on the river. Now it is time to do something for the health of the river. Even though new locks would help our barge industry to gain competitiveness, we should consider the environmental effects and potential losses after new construction. Therefore, we need to think about the need of new locks and we should not build any more of them.
Second, there must be another solution for the barging instead. So far, they didn’t pay much attention to the efficiency of better scheduling and coordination of shipments. If we think of potential harm to our river, the new construction plan should be reconsidered, and also we need an additional solution for it. Since it would be helpful not only for the barging but also for our environment, we should find a new system to control the barges.
Third, we need stricter regulations of the toxic releases. Now there are many manufacturing industries gathered in the area of northeastern Mississippi. The companies are trying to develop themselves to compete with other companies and also try to make more money in their field. That is why they could not reduce their toxic releases even though they know it is bad for the river. They don’t want to lose even a little against their competition, so we need strong laws to restrict these toxic releases for all the companies so that the companies could pay more attention to the environment.
Finally, we need to know about our environment exactly. People should know who is responsible for pollution such as toxic releases and so on. People need information to think about what are the good or bad ways for our environment, to try to keep watching other bad effects from our activities, to try to find a solution and participate in making decisions involved in the issues about environment as environmental groups do.
Now it is time to think about the problems on the Mississippi River and to try to do something for the health of the river. There should be no more attempts to destroy habitats on the river so that we could save and even cure the river. We need everyone’s coorperation to solve the problems we now have.


References :
The Associated Press State & Local Wire. (2004, April 14). Environmental groups call Mississippi a troubled river. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database, August 30, 2004.
Faulkner, L. (2004, June 25). The federal Environmental Protection Agency lists 13 Lee County industries in its report of “toxic release inventories”. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database, September 10, 2004.
The Star Tribune. (2004, April 21). Mississippi River, locks project is a bad idea, Minneapolis, MN. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database, September 10, 2004.

RP : Trying to save the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River has a lot of problems now. I am interested in those environmental problems in the river after I read some articles about it. In the Mississippi River there are mainly two kinds of problems. As I summarize it, they are adding more locks, and toxic release inventories. The Mississippi River is now called one of the most troubled rivers again. It is on the list mainly because there would be a big construction of expanded locks along the river for the barging industry. If the new 1,200 foot lock would be built, the habitats along the river would be harmed (The Star Tribune, 2004). Helping barge traffic could be beneficial for our economy but still it makes our environment worse. According to the environmental groups the construction would cut off the food chain and destroy wetlands. Even though new locks would help the barge industry have more competitive load capacity, now it is serious to think about the health of the river and even the scientist group said that it is time to do something for it. The problem is that thinking of our present benefit will cause the disaster on the river. Also, they are now not considering the result of rescheduling and coordination of shipping. Instead of destroying, if there could be a way to preserve our environment. Moreover, another problem is that, recently, the discharge of toxic chemical substances has been increased. Leesha Faulkner said, “The federal Environmental Protection Agency lists 13 industries in its report” (2004). In Northeast Mississippi there are areas in which many industries gathered. They don’t care much about environmental effects of toxic releases. That is because there are not enough regulations about environmental protection from being affected by these pollutants.
I plan to write that we should solve these problems which the Mississippi River has now. First, we have to reconsider the construction of new locks that would destroy the health of the river. Second, the barge industry should think about the environmental effects of that construction, so they need to find solutions to help barging like better scheduling, or a new control system instead of new locks. Third, there must be stronger regulation of the toxic releases which is now increasing. There is no company that will reduce those releases by itself, because they worry about the competition among their field. Therefore, we need control by the government. Finally, the government and environmental groups need to inform people of the exact situation about the river. We are all responsible for the health of the river so that we could know what is exactly going on in our river and what we should do.
I have found several articles about these issues on the Mississippi River and ideas to handle these problems. I need to find an article about the control of barges.


References :
The Associated Press State & Local Wire. (2004, April 14). Environmental groups call Mississippi a troubled river. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database. August 30, 2004.
Faulkner, L. (2004, June 25). The federal Environmental Protection Agency lists 13 Lee County industries in its report of “toxic release inventories”. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database. September 10, 2004.
The Star Tribune in Minneapolis, MN. (2004, April 21). Mississippi River;locks project is a bad idea. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database. September 10, 2004.

Fundamental solution for low-oxygen problem

Based on Mark Schleifstein’s report, restoration of wetlands in Mississippi was discussed by scientists gathered in Baton Rouge. The Mississippi River is nowadays suffered from problems of low-oxygen areas which cause the spread of a dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the research, this low-oxygen problem is mainly caused by use of fertilizer in the areas near the river. This nutrient from fertilizer helps algae to flourish so much in the river that the oxygen level has gone down. Therefore, scientists suggested to restore wetlands along the coast that could capture the nutrients. However, other scientists warned of the side effects of creating wetlands that could cause another nutrient problems.
The low-oxygen problem is significantly related to the death-life conditions for the river. This problem must be treated seriously with some solution. Although people say that we have to restore the wetlands, to prevent more serious situations the wetlands must not be restored, but instead we have to restrict and control the use of fertilizer.
The wetlands can cause more serious nutrient problem. If we create wetlands, nutrients could get so intensive in the area that it would increase the severe low-oxygen condition. Though some people say wetlands can capture nutrients from running off, it could make the state of the river worse.
Besides the restoration of wetlands, there must be endeavors to make the present situation better. To handle low-oxygen problems in the river, we should keep nutrients from inflowing into the river. Therefore, it seems that farmers should reduce the use of fertilizer, and also there should be more supervision of its use. If we reduce the man-made artificial fertilizer, we can prevent the complete death of the river.
It is desperate to settle the low-oxygen problems for the health of the river. If we just overlook the problems, it would be a significant disaster that we could never recover from. Therefore, instead of using provisional method like wetlands, we should find a fundamental solution.



Schleifstein, M. (2004, March 18). Scientists discuss solutions for ‘dead zone’. Times-Picayune, New Orleans, p. 17. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database, Sep. 2, 2004.

Recovering the health of Mississippi river

According to the author of the Associated Press, some environmental group define the Mississippi river as an endangered river. Most of them think the river is one of the most troubled rivers. For a long time it has been facing a lot of problems such as the destruction of the ecological system. Some environmental groups say we need to start to recover the health of the river right away. However, there is now an attempt to build new expanded locks along the river. It would cause lots of problems in the river; the habitat would be ruined. Although the construction company says that there would be no significant problems in the river and it could even help to improve the barge industry, environmentalists suggest that they’d better find a new way instead of building a bigger locks.
The Mississippi river has been considered a troubled river. Now it is time to return the good health of the river. Even though building expanded locks can help barges to sail and protect them for our businesses, we should not develop more, also try not to destroy any more habitat in the river, and we need to find a good way to control barge traffic.
The river has a dishonorable reputation, which is that it is in the top 10 most troubled rivers in the country. Everyone says now we need to try to do something. Therefore, the construction which would affect much of the river should not be started. Already the habitat of the river is now in danger. To restore the health of the river we should stop developing more only to compete with other people. Otherwise, we could never see our beautiful river again.
Despite the need of the locks for barge traffic to help our industry, the river should be protected for ourselves and for our next generation. Instead, the company should find the way to control barge traffic to solve congestion on the river. There could be possible technique to solve those problems and beside the company’s effort the government should help the barges to keep the industry competitive with other nations. One possibility might be tax control.
Now our land has a great amount of environmental problems. To see our clean Mississippi river again, we need to try to keep it from being destroyed. Not only should a company try to find the solution, but also all of us should try to pay interest in the problems in our river and keep it clean.


The Associated Press State & Local Wire. (April 14, 2004). Environmental groups call Mississippi a troubled river. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database. August 30, 2004.

Trying to keep our air clean

According to Sara Shipley from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch , a new huge cement plant got approval to constructed near the Mississippi river. This new plant would be one of the biggest one in the country and could affect the environment of the in Missouri. Despite environmentalists’ worries about air pollution, the spokeman of that company said the there would not be a mass influence on the air condition in St. Louis. To decrease discharge of pollutaing substances they will use new technology. It seems that they should provide some evidence of effectiveness of this technology. Anyway, the construction could be a good opportunity to create new jobs in that county, although it would be a great effect to Missouri air.
Now a new cement plant would affect the Missouri area including our region around Carbondale. If construction would begin, there could be a lot of chances to create new jobs, as many as thousands. We can say it could be a great contribution to its society.
However, even though it can be a good deal for that county, we still have to consider all of the unexpected problems which will be made. Although some people say it’s good for our economy, we should restrict bad pollutant emission for our environment and there must be a return of their profits.
It is very clear there would be great amount of bad effects for our environment, especially on the air, if a new plant would be operating. Though the company said there is no bad impact on our air, still it will harm our land by making pollution in our clean air. It is so sensitive that if the air changes, there would be a lot of deseases appear and also it would affect our breath so that we could have problems with our health. Therefore, there must be a strict regulation which limits their has emission. Moreover, the government should check every term and let us know so that we could feel free from worries that threatened by the plant.
Secondly, they should return their profits to our society. Even though there are not many people who live near the plant, they could be affected by the plant. Also, our region is far from there, but it could be an air problem which can cause changes in our area, so they should contribute to our society to try to make a better environment. They could return their profits to our society and we could use the money to help make our life better.
The construction of the new plant could be either good or bad for our society. It could be a disaster if we don’t keep track of their action. However, it would also have a good effect for us if we try. We need everyone’s cooperation to keep our region clear.



Shipley, S. (2004, June 9). Cement plant gets air permit. St. Louis Post-Dispatch,
P.A01. Retrieved from Lexis-Nexis database, Aug. 25, 2004.