Is the Mississippi River endangered? New ranking says iconic river at risk.
- FEMA's potential elimination threatens flood protection and infrastructure along the Mississippi River, said American Rivers, an environmental group based in Washington, D.C.
- The top 10 endangered rivers list includes waterways facing threats from pollution, extreme weather, and outdated water management.
- American Rivers selects endangered rivers based on the significance of the threat, public influence potential, and importance to people and nature.
The mighty Mississippi ranks at the top of a new listing of the nation's "most endangered" rivers.
The river is threatened primarily by the "uncertain future" of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said American Rivers, an environmental group based in Washington, D.C. The group compiles a yearly list of the country's 10 most endangered rivers.
In addition to the Mississippi, this year's list of imperiled rivers spans all the way from the Passaic River in New Jersey to the Susitna River in Alaska. Many of the most endangered were threatened by some combination of pollution, species extinction or extreme weather.
According to American Rivers, the endangered rivers list highlights rivers that face unique threats in the near future. Some major factors in what rivers are listed:
◾A major decision that the public can help influence in the coming year.
◾The significance of the river to people and nature.
◾The magnitude of the threat to the river and its communities.
Why is the Mississippi the most endangered river?
The hundreds of job cuts at FEMA and calls to abolish both the agency itself and the National Flood Insurance Program "risks river health and human safety along the entirety of its 2,320-mile stretch and could compound longstanding threats to the river," American Rivers said in a statement, adding that the listing is coming at a time when extreme weather is also fueling more devastating floods.
The administration appears to be serious about dismantling the agency: As recently as during a Cabinet meeting on March 24, Kristi Noem, the Secretary of Homeland Security, said: "We're going to eliminate FEMA."
President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at revamping the agency in January.
In the order, Trump said that "despite obligating nearly $30 billion in disaster aid each of the past three years, FEMA has managed to leave vulnerable Americans without the resources or support they need when they need it most." Trump also mentions "serious concerns of political bias" in the agency.
Calls to end FEMA would affect 'America's River'
"The Mississippi River is America’s River, a rich part of our cultural heritage, a vital ecosystem for wildlife and recreation, and an artery for the economy," said Kelly McGinnis, executive director of conservation group One Mississippi. “Communities and businesses desperately need more support to deal with the impacts caused by flooding, especially at times of increased intensity in weather events, instead of less."
FEMA has an impact on Mississippi River floods through disaster declarations, as well as providing financial and material assistance to affected communities. FEMA also works on flood mitigation and mapping to decrease flood risks.
Mike Sertle, central region director for American Rivers, said, "the Mississippi River is vital to our nation’s health, wealth and security. We drink from it, we grow our food with it, we travel on it, we live alongside it, and simply, we admire its beauty.”
“We cannot turn our back on Mississippi River communities or the health of the river millions depend on at this critical time when they need unified direction instead of uncertainty at the national level.”
What are the USA's top 10 most endangered rivers?
1. Mississippi River: Threatened by FEMA’s uncertain future and role in guiding floodplain protections and maintaining infrastructure that protects river health.
2. Tijuana River: Threatened by out-of-control sewage and chemical pollution.
3. Rivers of Southern Appalachia: Threatened by extreme weather impacts to unsafe dams and federal capacity to help recovery after recent hurricanes.
4. Passaic River: Threatened by historical and rampant industrial pollution.
5. Lower Rio Grande: Threatened by a mega-drought and outdated water management.
6. Rappahannock River: Threatened by declining groundwater levels and a lack of water supply strategy amidst rapid population growth and expanding industries like data centers.
7. Clearwater River Basin: Threatened by loss of 700 miles of Wild and Scenic River candidacy protections.
8. Susitna River: Threatened by road construction, mining and pollution.
9. Calcasieu River: Threatened by toxic and heavy metal pollutants.
10. Gauley River: Threatened by toxic pollution from strip mining for coal in the headwaters.
Contributing: Gabe Hauari, Bart Jansen and Zac Anderson