The Mississippi River has been an important source of sediment for centuries, providing soil for farmland and building up wetlands and coastal areas.
However, with the river being dredged and levees being built, this sediment is being lost and the coastal areas are eroding away.
Mississippi's Gulf Coast is now pushing for more of this sediment to be sent its way, instead of being deposited in the deep waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
The state's congressional delegation has been pushing for this change, arguing that it could help mitigate the effects of climate change and rising sea levels.
The Gulf Coast has been dealing with increasing levels of flooding, and the sediment could help build up the wetlands and barrier islands that protect the coast from storms.
However, there are concerns that diverting sediment could cause problems downstream, and some argue that it would be too costly to build the infrastructure needed to redirect the sediment.
Despite these concerns, advocates for the Gulf Coast believe that the benefits outweigh the risks, and that it is crucial to take action now to protect this vital region.
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