Marijn Vreriks
Flowscapes
Embracing Fluidity: Following waterways in the Mississippi Delta for more balanced Deltaic values
Delta landscapes, formed over thousands of years, are rich natural systems that human activities have heavily altered due to their strategic trade locations and fertile lands. This exploitation has disrupted the balance of these ecosystems, leading to a decrease in their value. Urbanization, sea level rise and increasing temperatures further threaten these areas, including the Mississippi Delta, which has lost significant sediment to the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in reduced safety, economy, identity and ecological value. The Anthropogenic focus on human needs has overlooked the importance of maintaining natural systems. To protect the Mississippi Delta’s rich history, ecology and economy from future climate changes, a new approach is required. This approach should prioritise the natural system, ensuring man-made interventions support and enhance the Deltaic environment. Three key principles—supplying, trapping and keeping sediments—have been proposed to address current challenges and explore new opportunities for the Mississippi Delta.