Orange groves at Ben & Ben Becnel, Inc. are seen along the Mississippi River in Plaquemines Parish, La., Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023. Citrus farmers in the southeast corner of Louisiana are scrambling to protect and save their crops from salt water, which for months has polluted the fresh water they use for irrigation. A mass flow of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico continues to creep up the Mississippi River and threaten Louisiana communities water used for drinking, cooking…
September 30, 2023
Stories this photo appears in:
Louisiana citrus farmers are seeing a mass influx of salt water that could threaten seedlings
The latest hurdle comes from a slow-moving threat — a mass influx of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico that is creeping up the drought-stricken Mississippi River. Not only is the saltwater intrusion threatening drinking water supplies for communities, but it can also kill citrus seedlings.