The Mississippi River and the Dead Zone: Where Science Meets Policy

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The Mississippi River and the Dead Zone Where
Science Meets Policy

• Visions of a Sustainable Mississippi River
• Matt Rota
• August 11, 2009

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The Dead Zone

• History of the Dead Zone
• Impacts of the Dead Zone
• Current Policy
• Proposed Policy Direction

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The DEAD ZONE
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Formation of the Dead Zone
Nutrient-rich freshwater layers over saltwater
Algae bloom
Algae die off and fall to Gulf floor
Bacteria decompose falling dead algae, using up
enormous amounts of DO
Because of extremely low amounts of oxygen, sea
creatures must flee or die
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Where does Dead Zone-causing pollution come from?
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Dead Zone History
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2009 Dead Zone

• Surprisingly small, but severe
• Bottom dwellers seen swimming to surface
• 5-year average 6,000 square miles (2,000 mi2 Goal)

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The Dead Zone

• History of the Dead Zone
• Impacts of the Dead Zone
• Current Policy
• Proposed Policy Direction

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Values of the Gulf

• Value of Gulf Fish harvest 670 (2004)
• Value of shrimp fishery 370 million,
• 140 million in Louisiana alone.
• 24.6 million recreational fishing days occurred
  in the Gulf of Mexico in 2004
• Habitat for many species, including endangered
  sea turtles and marine mammals.

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Impacts of the Dead Zone

• Not as much to catch
• As Dead Zone Increases, brown shrimp catch
  decreases
• Decrease in biodiversity
• Where to fish?
• Dislocation of fish habitat
• Disruption of Aquatic Migratory Patterns

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Impacts (cont.)

• Damage to surviving organisms
• Not only does it kill everything around it, but
  if it doesnt directly kill certain species,
  were finding that it has an impact on the
  fertility of some speciesits causing low
  birthrates of some species. Clint Guidry
• Potential ecological Regime Shift

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The Dead Zone

• History of the Dead Zone
• Impacts of the Dead Zone
• Current Policy
• Proposed Policy Direction

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Lack of Success

• Far from National Goal
• Rely only on voluntary mechanisms, without
  allocating significant funds
• Existing funds not adequately targeted
• Very few goals with attached timelines

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A Healthy Gulf Perspective

• History of the Dead Zone
• Impacts of the Dead Zone
• Current Policy
• Proposed Policy Direction

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EPAs Role

• Establishing Nitrogen and Phosphorus Criteria for
  Mississippi River and Gulf
• Develop Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for Gulf
  and Mississippi River
• Ensure that Sewage Treatment Plants and other
  industries are properly treating
• Target 319 Funds

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The Corps Role

• Floodplain restoration
• Mississippi reintroduction
• Coastal Louisiana Restoration
• Effects of high levels of nutrients on wetlands

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The State Role

• List the Mississippi on Impaired Waters list
• Target watersheds to get best bang for buck
• Make sure N and P reduction is a priority to
  State Technical Committees
• Ensure that point sources are protecting local
  and downstream uses

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USDAs Role

• Utilize current studies to target watersheds
  where possible

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TargetingSPARROW Model

• By Robertson, et al (2009)USGS
• HUC8 Watershed resolution
• Looked at N and P loadings to local watersheds
  and ultimate loadings to the Gulf
• Incorporated uncertainty and how likely certain
  watersheds were to contribute

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From Robertson, et al 2009
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From Robertson, et al 2009
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From Robertson, et al 2009
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USDAs Role

• Utilize current studies to target watersheds
  where possible
• Focus on prevention of local pollution and
  downstream effects
• Fully utilize programs, such as conservation
  compliance

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Matt Rota Gulf Restoration Network matt_at_healthygul
f.org 504-525-1528 x206 www.healthygulf.org