These canals and pipelines serve a vital resource to the entire nation .
They have increased the erosion and degradation of the Mississippi River Delta by facilitating the creation of open water areas that allow for salt water penetration into freshwater wetlands .
Although these canals and pipelines serve a vital resource to the entire nation , they have increased the erosion and degradation of the Mississippi River Delta by facilitating the creation of open water areas that allow for salt water penetration into freshwater wetlands .