0419 deadzone rockford
DESCRIPTION
Dead zone graphicTRANSCRIPT
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MISSOURI
RIVER
PLATTE RIVER
ARKANSAS RIVER
MISSISSIPPIRIVER
TENNESSEERIVER
OHIORIVER
RED RIVER
Dead zoneFreshwater containing phosphorus and nitrogen from farms and sewage treatment plants makes its way from the Mississippi River Basin to the Gulf of Mexico, forming an oxygen-de-prived zone the size of Connecticut thats devoid of fish and aquatic life, threatening lucrative fishing and tourism industries. Rockfords sewage treatment plant will likely face stricter nutrient removal regulations to help solve the problem.
FRED MATAMOROS/GATEHOUSE MEDIA
Sources: Illinois EPA, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
Nutrients stimulate widespread algae growth.
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Mississippi RiverWatershed OHIO
RIVER
How a dead zone forms1 Nutrients from sewage and fertilizers flow into creeks and rivers in the Mississippi River Watershed and down to the Gulf of Mexico.
Hypoxic dead zone5,052 square miles
4 Fish and other aquatic life avoid the oxygen-deprived area.
The algae dies, sinks to the bottom and is fed upon by oxygen-consuming bacteria.
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