The Mississippi Sound is a 90-mile-long estuarine arm of the Gulf of Mexico, extending from the Louisiana border to the Dauphin Island Bridge in Alabama. This vast, partially enclosed coastal body is defined by the dynamic mixing of freshwater from rivers and streams with saltwater from the ocean. This estuarine environment creates a uniquely productive ecosystem that serves as a vital nursery and habitat for a wide array of marine life. The Sound's health is foundational to the region's commercial seafood industry, recreational fishing, and coastal tourism, supporting a way of life deeply connected to these waters.