Gulf Coast's Ecological Heritage at RiskThe Gulf Statesspacer
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Confront the Challenge
• Climate in the Gulf
• The Report
• For Teachers

Discover the Solutions
• Overview
• Slow the Change
• Speed our Response

Explore the Impacts
• Overview
• Water Resources
• Sea-Level Change
• Human Perspectives

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Mississippi
Mississippi State Flower - Magnolia, 'Magnolia grandiflora'
Introduction
Climate Projections
Agriculture
Forestry
Tourism & Recreation
Fisheries & Aquaculture
Freshwater Resources
Coastal Development
Human Health
MS Resources & Links
Freshwater Resources
Mississippi's population is growing and its freshwater resources will be increasingly tapped for urban residential or industrial uses, irrigation, the prevention of saltwater intrusion in coastal aquifers, and the maintenance of healthy aquatic ecosystems. Competing demands on limited water resources will increase freshwater management challenges with or without climate change. However, global warming may further exacerbate such challenges. For example:

  • More extreme rainfall events, a trend already detected, create their own challenges—extreme runoff could overload the sewage systems, leading to septic contamination of surface and coastal waters and negative consequences for health and the fishing industry.

  • Grand Bay National Estuarine Research ReserveGreater freshwater losses due to increased temperatures and evaporation will magnify the water resource challenges of the future if rainfall stays at current levels. Where rainfall amounts decline, especially during critical times of the growing season, drought and widespread freshwater shortages could increase.

  • Where saltwater intrudes into coastal groundwater sources due to sea-level rise, freshwater resources could be further affected. Where saltwater intrudes into freshwater marshes, vegetation with low salt tolerance would be decimated, changing the composition and functioning of these ecosystems.

  • Higher water temperatures impact aquatic ecosystems by changing aquatic food webs and species communities. Higher water temperatures also reduce the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water, diminishing water quality, and in extreme cases, killing fish.

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Alabama | Florida | Louisiana | Mississippi | Texas


Photo Credits:
Magnolia - Copyright M. Harris, Floridata.com.
Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve - NOAA Photo Library.
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Survey the Gulf States
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Tour Special Places
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