The History of Mississippi River Floodplains
The Mississippi River is the largest and most important waterway in the United States. It stretches over 2,200 miles and passes through more than 10 states. The Mississippi River is an integral part of America’s transportation network, providing an important link between producers and consumers throughout the country. Over the course of countless years, it has
also served as an incredibly large floodplain for much of the United States.
Every year, the river swells its banks due to heavy rains and releases huge amounts of floodwater onto the surrounding land. These floods have caused devastating damage to the communities that live along the river. Floods have destroyed crops, homes, and businesses in the past, and are one of the main reasons that modern civil engineers are so focused on controlling and minimizing their impact.
The size of the Mississippi River’s floodplain used to be much larger. Over the years, as civil engineering projects and urban sprawl have continued to erode its banks, this floodplain has been reduced in size substantially. Today, the natural floodplain of the Mississippi River is not nearly as large as it once was.
Typically, the natural floodplain of the Mississippi River is defined as the area of land that is inundated by floodwaters during the heaviest of rain and snow events. These floodwaters can stretch up to two hundred and fifty miles wide in certain places, although the official size of the river’s floodplain can shrink drastically in some areas due to the presence of levees and other flood control structures.
Because of the intense flooding that the Mississippi River is prone to, controlling the flow of floodwaters has been a priority for civil engineers for many years. In recent decades, engineers have developed extensive levee systems to help protect communities from the destructive power of the river’s flooding.
These levees, combined with other flood control measures, have allowed communities to reduce the size of the natural floodplain of the Mississippi River significantly. This has not only protected many communities from catastrophic flooding, but has also allowed them to reclaim and transform portions of the floodplain that were once held underwater.
Recent Flood Events on the Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is prone to flooding, especially during times of high rainfall and snowfall. These events can cause devastating destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure along the river. In recent years, major flood events have occurred along the Mississippi River on several occasions.
In 2019, the Midwest and Upper Midwest experienced major flooding along the Mississippi River. This was due to an exceptionally wet spring and summer, and record amounts of precipitation in the area. The river swelled to record levels, and many nearby towns were forced to sandbag and evacuate when waters rose. Despite damage to homes and other buildings, no deaths were reported.
In February of 2021, another major flood event occurred along the Mississippi River. This was due to heavy, prolonged rains and snowfall in the region. Several towns had to be evacuated and dozens of homes were damaged due to overflowing waters. Fortunately, the levees that had been built in recent years were able to contain the waters, allowing most of the surrounding communities to escape unscathed.
The Mississippi River has experienced many major flooding events in recent years, a testament to how important it is to maintain adequate flood control measures on the river. Many people in the area feel that building additional levees and other control measures is paramount in order to minimize the damage of future flooding events.
Impact of Flood Control Measures on the Floodplain
Flood control measures can have a dramatic effect on the size of the Mississippi River’s floodplain. By constructing levees and other control structures, engineers are able to significantly reduce the size of the natural floodplain on the river. This can dramatically reduce the amount of damage caused by floods, as fewer communities will be affected by the river’s overflow.
In areas where levees have been built, the floodplain is reduced by approximately 90%. This means that, in the event of major flooding on the Mississippi River, only areas immediately adjacent to the river will be affected by the floodwaters. This reduced level of destruction can have incredible benefits for the communities that live along the river.
It is important to note that, while flood control measures can reduce the size of the floodplain, they cannot eliminate it entirely. During especially severe floods, even levees can be overwhelmed, leading to overflow and destruction near the walls of the levees.
For this reason, it is important for civil engineers to continue to look for ways to minimize the risk of flooding on the Mississippi River. By understanding the size of the floodplain and the effects of flood control measures, these engineers can continue to protect the communities that rely on the river for their livelihood.
Government Initiatives to Protect Mississippi River Residents
In recent years, the Federal government has taken a more active role in protecting communities that live along the Mississippi River. Multiple local, state, and Federal agencies have partnered to develop robust flood control plans that combine traditional engineering projects with community-led initiatives.
Through these plans, the Federal government has invested in a variety of projects that aim to reduce the impact of flooding on the river’s communities. This includes restoring wetlands and floodplains near the river, installing flood detection systems, and providing education and awareness programs to the public. The goal of these plans is to create an environment in which the river’s communities can thrive.
The Federal government has also taken an active role in helping to fund the construction of additional levees and other flood control measures in the areas surrounding the Mississippi River. This is in addition to the state and local funds that are made available for these projects. The hope is that, with the help of the Federal government, communities along the river can continue to be protected from the destructive power of flooding.
Additionally, the Federal government has created multiple grants and resources to help communities that have been devastated by floods. These funds can provide the necessary resources to help rebuild damaged buildings, restore local infrastructure, and provide relief to the people affected by floods.
The Role of Climate Change
Climate change is having a major impact on the size and scope of the Mississippi River’s floodplain. Studies predict that the frequency and intensity of floods in the region are likely to increase as the climate continues to warm. This means that the current flood control measures in place will need to be adjusted to accommodate the increased risk of flooding.
The changes to the climate are also likely to have an impact on the size of the Mississippi River’s floodplain. As the climate continues to warm, the amount of precipitation in the region is expected to increase, leading to more runoff and higher floodwaters on the river. This could lead to an expansion of the natural floodplain of the Mississippi River.
Climate change has thus become an important consideration in the way that civil engineers address the size of the Mississippi River’s floodplain. By understanding the potential impacts of climate change, these engineers can create plans and projects that help protect the river’s communities from the destructive power of flooding.
Conclusion
The natural floodplain of the Mississippi River is an important consideration for communities living along the river. The size of this floodplain has shrunk significantly in recent years due to the construction of levees and other flood control structures. Despite these structures, major flooding events on the river can still cause catastrophic destruction.
For this reason, the Federal government has become more involved in the protection of the communities in the region. Through the deployment of additional flood control measures, grants, and resources, the Federal government is helping to ensure that the people living along the river can stay protected from flooding. Additionally, the Federal Government is taking climate change into account when developing flood control plans and projects, in order to ensure that they are sustainable in the long-term.
