Héctor Alejandro Arzate (Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk)

The Mississippi River meets the Gulf of Mexico. For 2026, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that nutrient pollution from the river will create a low-oxygen deadzone covering more than 7,000 square miles in the Gulf.

This summer’s ‘dead zone’ in the Gulf will be larger than average, but task force claims progress is being made

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration expects the oxygen-depleted zone to be about the size of the state of New Jersey.

Farmer Joe Lau stands in front of his field of soybeans in St. Joseph, Mo. Lau says earlier springs have not affected his production negatively but he worries about pests on his crops.

Coastal Desk

Climate experts say spring is coming earlier. How will that affect agriculture and ecosystems?

Héctor Alejandro Arzate (Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk)

Spring leaves arrive 2 days earlier in New Orleans and 8 days earlier in Monroe.

After months of uncertainty over its future, an online resource for tracking high-cost disasters throughout the United States has been revived by the nonprofit Climate Central. In the first half of 2025, 14 disasters have done more than $101 billion in damage.

Coastal Desk

A tool tracking billion dollar disasters is active again after being retired by Trump administration

Héctor Alejandro Arzate (Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk)

Louisiana is in the top four, costing more than $300 billion since 1980.

Cave City, Ark. Mayor Jonas Anderson motions toward a storm-damaged home following tornadoes earlier this year.

Coastal Desk

Mississippi River Basin communities launch new effort to deliver disaster relief within 72 hours

Héctor Alejandro Arzate (Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk)

The Mississippi River Cities and Towns Initiative, a cooperative of more than 100 river communities between Minnesota and Louisiana, held its annual meeting this week in Minnesota’s Twin Cities. In response to FEMA’s uncertain future, the MRCTI, in partnership with Convoy of Hope, announced a new program to deliver assistance to its members within 72 hours of a disaster event.