HOW DID THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER DELTA FORM?
The Mississippi River built the delta with soil that it carried from the central U.S. over the last 3000-6000 years. Basically, imagine a garden hose moving back and forth as it sprays water. The Mississippi River moved back and forth, over 3000-6000 years, and spread water and soil that settled out and created the great Delta that the riders are visiting today. If you are traveling along one of the old delta courses (e.g., Bayou Lafourche, Bayou Teche, Bayou Segnette, Bayou Terrebonne, Bayou Sauvage), you can tell your listeners, “At one time, the Mississippi River channel ran right where we are today.” AMERICA’S WETLAND IS ERODING AT THE RATE OF 10.3 SQUARE MILES PER YEAR. Ask if the riders can imagine losing 10.3 square miles per year where they live. Tell them that America’s WETLAND is experiencing 90% of all the coastal erosion taking place in the U.S. WHY IS IT SO BAD THAT WE ARE LOSING AMERICA’S WETLAND? • America’s WETLAND provide habitat for many, many species of plants and an
