1 - Mississippi river wetlands & tourism Flashcards
(17 cards)
What ecosystems services does the delta provide?
- Supply all freshwater
- Food and building materials
- Flood control
- Groundwater recharge
- Climate change mitigation
What is the Ramsar convention?
an international treaty established in 1971 for the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands
How quickly is the delta dissappearing?
a football field of wetlands disappears every 100 minutes.
How do levees cause delta loss?
The velocity is too high that deposition no longer takes place in the right location
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Block natural sediment flow from river to wetlands, causing them to starve and erode.
How did dams contribute to delta loss?
Trap sediment on the Missouri, Ohio, and upper Mississippi rivers, reducing sediment in the delta
How much of reduction was there in sediment in the delta since 1850 due to dams?
70%
How are the people in New Orleans affected?
increasing risk from flooding and storms due to wetland loss.
How is wildlife affected?
Wetlands are critical for birds, fish, shellfish, and amphibians.
How much revenue is there through agricultural products from the Mississippi drainage basin?
$54B
What percentage of grains exports in the US does the Mississippi transport?
60%
What percentage of the country’s hydroelectric power does the river produce?
25%
How many square kilometres of wetlands is lost annually in Louisiana?
75 km2 lost annually
What human activites weakened the delta’s natural resilience?
- Upstream dams and levees, which trap the river sediment needed to rebuild wetlands.
- Drainage and development of the natural floodplain.
- Straightened navigation channels, which accelerated storm surge travel inland.
How do coastal wetlands provide natural storm protection?
Slowing down storm surges and reducing their height and energy.
Binding the shoreline with plant roots to prevent erosion.
What activities is the Mississippi wetland known for
fishing and hunting
How many contracting coutnries are there in the Ramsar convention?
170+
What is special about the Ramsar convention?
Only global treaty focused on a single ecosystem: wetlands.
