Experts Alarmed as Gulf of Mexico's 'Dead Zone' Now Larger than State of Connecticut

A "dead zone," or a region of low to no oxygen, has grown larger than Connecticut in the Gulf of Mexico, making it unsuitable for certain commercial marine species, and experts believe the lack of tropical activity is to blame.

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, water from 31 states in the United States and two Canadian provinces drains into the Mississippi River, forming a drainage basin of over 1,245,000 square feet. These extra nutrients are carried to the Mississippi River via tributaries and rivers from these states, notably the Ohio and Missouri rivers. In addition, farms provide a significant amount of nitrogen.

Agriculture is the primary source of nitrogen, according to Rabalais. "It's roughly 70% row crops," says the farmer.

Rabalais went on to say that local water boards might enhance their sewage treatment and that the more fossil fuels are used, the more nitrogen is released into the river.

Rabalais remarked, "We're all in this together."

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