The Dead Zone

The Dead Zone is an area in the Gulf of Mexico where life cannot exist because there is little oxygen in the water. It sometimes grows to the size of New Jersey. Fertilizer pollution from Corn Belt states and raw sewage from cities contribute to the Dead Zone.

The River releases over ten thousand pounds of fertilizer and manure into the Gulf annually. Loaded with nitrogen and phosphorus which over-fertilize the water, these substances create massive algal blooms that use up the available oxygen.

Water lacking oxygen lacks life. The oxygen-depleted waters force fish and wildlife to leave, while bottom–dwellers like Gulf shrimp often cannot escape the Dead Zone and die. Scientists call this oxygen-depleted condition hypoxia, and it is getting worse in the Gulf.

Reducing pollution from the Mississippi River is essential to restoring the Gulf. Agricultural pollution from the extensive Corn Belt is damaging the entire watershed. Reducing chemical use on farms, shifting to sustainable farming and improving green infrastructure to capture and filter runoff in wetlands will clean the River and shrink the Dead Zone. Restoring natural floodplains, meanders and other features that slow the volume and intensity of floods will help capture sediments and nitrates, reducing the tons that reach the Gulf.

River Citizens can take action by reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, and voting to support River access, protection and restoration.

For more information on the Clean Water Act, visit the US EPA Laws and Regulations. For more information on water quality in the Mississippi River, download a free PDF from the National Academies National Research Council.