The environmental curve balls we throw at the Gulf of Mexico along the US coast are far and many, in addition to wetland degradation, the recent BP oil spill, and climate change impacts on the region; there is an annual Dead Zone Hypoxia caused by agricultural and urban runoff in the Mississippi River. First documented in 1972, this area then sees a spike in algal growth followed by a large decline in available oxygen as the algae die and sink to the bottom of the water column where they decompose. The result of this is oxygen poor water (less than 2ppm). This biological phenomenon occurs, during the summer months, and is deadly to oxygen dependent marine life in the region. This also has an impact of the gulf economy, which is dependent on the health of the fisheries along the coast.
The most surprising aspect of the hypoxia is the lack of action to mitigate the magnitude of chemical runoff into the gulf. From a social justice perspective it appears as if the wealthier and more politically powerful agricultural industry and cities along the river are in control of the conversation on the issue. (What a shock...)
Suggested strategies to alleviate the problem include waste water recycling and treatment, changing the kinds of fertilizer and chemicals we use, and restoring natural spaces along the river where water can naturally filter out excess nutrients before running back into the aquifer. However, I have little optimism these will be implemented on a large scale as this problem has been persistent for over forty years and yet very little action has been taken. Further inaction could have dire consequences for a region that is already ailing from environmental damage and degradation.
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