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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