Natural Causes of Mississippi River Floods
The Mississippi River is one of the world’s longest and most important rivers, plumbing the water from its headwaters in Minnesota to its delta in Louisiana. Unfortunately, due to its size and long history of flooding, the Mississippi River is prone to flooding. The Mississippi River floods occur when natural phenomena overwhelm the river’s capacity, pushing water levels to at or above the banks of the river.
Many environmental factors can cause the Mississippi River to flood. One of the primary causes of Mississippi River flooding is the “river’s mountain heritage”. The numerous tributaries that branch off of the main Mississippi give it the capacity to collect and hold large quantities of water from the midwestern and more northern U.S. states. This can cause the river to swell as spring snow melts and runoff come down from the mountains.
In addition to mountain runoff, storms and heavy rains are a major factor in the Mississippi River’s floods. Depending on the area along the Mississippi River, such as the basin near Minneapolis and St Paul, floods may be caused by a combination of local rains, distant rains and winds which can last up to a week and cause immense flooding in the central region of the US.
Moreover, the Gulf Coast of the US is also subject to tropical storms which can increase the amount of rain and runoff falling into the Mississippi River. In these situations, Mississippi River floods can become extensive.
Finally, the Mississippi River’s flat terrain also plays a role in its propensity for flooding. The flat terrain enables large volumes of runoff water from the higher areas to travel into the lower areas; thus, floods can occur more rapidly.
Man-made Causes of Mississippi River Floods
In addition to natural triggers of Mississippi River flooding, anthropogenic influences can contribute to the risk of flooding. For example, deforestation in states upstream of the Mississippi River can reduce the amount of vegetation and roots that are present in the soil. This can make the soil less able to absorb water and thus, more runoff would enter the river, leading to river flooding.
Furthermore, human-induced channelization increases the speed of the water and reduce its capacity to spread it out over wide areas. This can cause the Mississippi River’s water level to rise quickly and create flash floods, often with little to no warning. The channelization of the Mississippi River is often done to improve navigation along it and can thus have a large effect on the floods.
Urbanization is also another human activity responsible for the increased risk of flooding along the Mississippi River. This is because urbanization results in development and loss of wetland systems. Wetlands act as natural stormwater detention centers, capturing and storing water during heavy rain storms and recharging it into the ground. As wetlands are impacted by the development of buildings, roads and other urban infrastructure, the detention of water is lost, causing more runoff to fall directly into the Mississippi River.
Furthermore, dredging efforts along the Mississippi River can also contribute to flooding. This is because dredging a river attempts to deepen and widen the river, to help improve navigation and transport, but by doing so, it can also accelerate the river’s flow and increase erosion. This can lead to the riverbed becoming shallower over time, and thus, when there are floods, the water may be unable to spread out quickly enough and may overflow into surrounding areas.
Impacted Areas and Communities along the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River runs for over 2,320 miles, and it traverses 10 states in the United States on its journey from its source to its mouth in Louisiana. This means that there are numerous communities that are situated along this river and could be affected by floodwaters.
In fact, significant floods take place along the Mississippi River basin every decade. Flooded areas can range from Minnesota, through the central states like Arkansas and Tennessee and right down to Louisiana which is prone to flooding year-round due to the flat terrain.
These floods can have devastating effects on these communities and their inhabitants as can be seen in 2019 with the spring floods in the Midwest US. It proves magnified in the rural areas since they lack the resources and infrastructure that would otherwise help to protect them against the floods such as adequate levees, pumps and drainage systems.
In areas such as the Mississippi Delta, flooding can cause even more severe consequences. This is mainly due to the presence of wetlands in the delta, the decreasing soil fertility caused by floods and the erosion of the shoreline. This can have a serious impact on the native habitats and ecosystems which are essential for the well-being of the urban and rural inhabitants of the Mississippi river basin.
The Ecological Effects of Flooding
Flooding of the Mississippi River Basin can have immense ecological consequences. This is because flooding obliterates not only the terrestrial habitat but it also destroys the aquatic habitats in the process. Through destruction of the natural vegetation, flooding can cause the destruction of the food chain and the loss of aquatic diversity. Not only that, it can cause outbreaks of waterborne illnesses and destruction of fish spawning grounds.
At a broader level, since the Mississippi River floods frequently and its waters spread throughout the delta, it can also disrupt the hydrological system of the region. That is, the water flow in the river is changed due to its depth and the direction in which it flows. This can have serious effects on the migratory routes of fish, amphibians, aquatic mammals, and birds in the region, potentially endangering them.
Moreover, when the Mississippi River floods, it carries with it an immense quantity of lateral sediment. This sediment is silt-rich which affects the salinity of the coastal waters. This can cause an imbalance in the local ecosystems as well as changes in the aquatic vegetation, which can result in displacement of aquatic organism and the destruction of breeding grounds.
Finally, Mississippi River floods also contribute significantly to the amount of nutrients that enter the ocean, particularly the Gulf of Mexico. In fact, the nitrogen and phosphorus in the water from the Mississippi River has been linked to the excessive growth and resulting dead zone of algae in the Gulf.
The Economic Effects of Mississippi River Floods
In addition to its ecological effects, flooding in the Mississippi River basin can also have a sizable economic impact. This is because flooding can result in the destruction of infrastructure, homes, and businesses.
For instance, ocean traffic along the Mississippi River can be heavily disrupted when the river is inundated with floodwaters. Numerous commercial and recreational vessels operate along the Mississippi River every year, and when these floods occur, these vessels cannot move freely, as the river depths change due to the changing water levels. As a result, the port scheduling systems and economies along the river can be heavily impacted by the flooding of the Mississippi River.
Furthermore, flooding along the Mississippi River can also devastate farming areas. In portions of the delta, and other regions along the river, because of its flat nature and proximity to saltwater and storm surge, localized flooding can ruin entire crops, cause soil erosion and force farmers out of business.
Finally, when these floods occur, they can also cause large-scale displacement of citizens. This can cause additional economic hardship, since these people either need to evacuate and stay in temporary shelters or they seek to rebuild their houses and business, but with little to no financial aid.
Preventing Flooding in the Mississippi River Basin
One way to reduce the risk of flooding in the Mississippi River basin is to improve the levee system in the river. Levees are high walls that are built along rivers to help reduce the flow of water. This can help to keep the water from overflowing the riverbanks and flooding nearby communities. In addition, levees can also help to control the speed of the water in the river, helping to reduce further damage witnessed in flooding.
In addition, the re-establishment of wetlands can be helpful in reducing the risk of Mississippi River flooding. Re-establishing wetlands can help to reduce the amount of runoff that enters the river and also can help to act as water detention centres during storms and heavy rains.
Furthermore, better coordination of the water flow of the Mississippi River can also help to reduce its floods. By better managing the river’s inflows and outflows, the velocity of the river can be reduced, reducing the risk of destructive river flooding.
Finally, upstream state should also initiate preventive urban planning measures to reduce their contribution to the flooding risk of the Mississippi River. This would involve reducing development on wetlands and improving stormwater infrastructure, both of which can help reduce floods in the downstream states.
Public Education and Awareness
Raising public awareness about the causes and consequences of floods in the Mississippi River basin can be important in helping to reduce their risk. Understanding the various environmental, social and economic impacts of flooding can help to create a greater awareness of the need for appropriate flood management and risk mitigation strategies.
Furthermore, educating the public about the various actions they can take before and during a flood event can help to reduce their risk. This includes preparing an emergency emergency kit, avoiding going outdoors during flooding, adhering to government evacuation orders, and taking measures to protect homes and businesses such as moving valuables to elevated locations.
Moreover, public outreach programs aimed at educating citizens about how to protect the environment against floods can also help to reduce their risk. This can include actions such as planting native vegetation, avoiding pesticide and herbicide use, and reducing fertilizers and other wastes that enter the river.
Finally, public education can also teach people to recognize and respond to early warning signs of floods. By being aware of the potential floods and responding accordingly, people can help to reduce their risk of suffering from its consequences.
Future of the Mississippi River Floods
Floods along the Mississippi River are not likely to diminish anytime soon. In fact, due to global climate change and the increasing incidence of heavy storms and rainfall, floods are only likely to become more frequent and more severe in the future.
This could mean more destruction and displacement in the communities along the Mississippi River. Thus, it is imperative that these regions focus on developing innovative flood management and risk mitigation strategies, aimed at not only reducing their risk of flooding, but also at preparing them for the inevitable floods that will occur.
In addition, efforts to restore and protect the Mississippi River basin can help to reduce the risk of flooding in the future. This can involve restoring the wetlands, re-establishing vegetation and reducing the amount of pollution that enters into the river system. These actions can help to create healthy, resilient ecosystems and ultimately restore the health of the river and reduce the risk of floods.
Finally, reducing human-caused climate change can also reduce the risk of flooding in the Mississippi River basin. This can involve reducing emissions from industries and transportation, planting trees, and improving energy efficiency. These actions can all help to reduce the amount of global warming and thus, the number of floods occurring in the Mississippi River basin, the extent of their destruction, and the disruption they cause to daily life.
