Mississippi River loses most of its sediment, and land-building ability, before reaching the Gulf

Mississippi River loses most of its sediment, and land-building ability, before reaching the Gulf

Tulane University graduate student Augustine Nwokoye removes a water sample from the PS 200 isokinetic sediment sampler in the Lower Mississippi River Delta on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Photo by Stacey Plaisance/Tulane University)NEW ORLEANS, La. – Mississippi River ships and barges carry over 500 million tons of cargo through the Southwest Pass shipping channel at the river’s end to reach major ports that handle 18% of U.S. waterborne commerc…