Mississippi In Great Danger Due To Climate Change
The American Rivers’ 40th annual endangered rivers list has just been released—America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2025. The largest river in America is at the top of the list. The Mississippi runs 2,340 miles from Minnesota to the Mississippi. It drains water from 32 states and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the largest river in North America and the 10th largest river in the world.
The study comments that the Mississippi is “Threatened by FEMA’s uncertain future and role in guiding floodplain protections and maintaining infrastructure that protects river health.” And, “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,” said Mike Sertle, Central region director for American Rivers.
Floods And Damage
As FEMA is likely to lose most of its financial support, floods, land management and pollution are bound to grow. Drought makes the river impassible to marges critical to much of the American supply chain. “In 2024, Mississippi exported $13.7 billion of goods to the world. In 2022, exports from Mississippi supported an estimated 56 thousand jobs,” according to the Office of United States Trade Representative.
Jessie Ritter, Associate Vice President, Waters and Coasts with National Wildlife Federation. “The river supports diverse ecosystems, provides drinking water to millions, and serves as a critical artery for economic activity. We must unite together to ensure that the Mississippi River remains a source of life, prosperity, and inspiration now and for future generations to come.”
The Mississippi has been critical to American commerce for centuries and to the infrastructure of hundreds of towns and cities along the river. According to this study, that could end within decades.
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