Reflections of Winter on the Mississippi River
In the winter season, the temperate climate along the grand Mississippi River ebbs and flows like any other landscape. But with its vastness, the Mississippi River transforms greatly even within its seasonally moderate boundaries. At this time of year, the river’s depth is particularly of keen interest to explorers, naturalists and the curious alike.
The true depth of the Mississippi varies significantly by location, primarily depending on factors such as recent rainfall as wells as upstream dam control and outflows. On average, the river runs deepest near the center of its basin, often reaching depths of over 200 feet in locations such as the stretch from Cairo, Illinois to the Gulf.
The upper regions of the river, however, tend to experience much more sporadic depths. Depending on weather conditions and soil condition, the Mississippi might flow at depths of anywhere from 10-50 feet which changes drastically from one location to the next.
In St. Paul, Minnesota, for example, the water remains a shallow 6-7 feet most of the year, but has been known to dip down to a mere 2 feet deep in the winter. This is due in part to the sediment and streams that feed into the river during drier years, leading the upper river to slow down and shrink in cross-section.
Since the depth of the Mississippi directly impacts the navigation and mobility of goods sent downstream, its winter depth is monitored closely by numerous agencies such as the U.S. Navy and various government agencies.
The Corps of Engineers constantly evaluates the depth and current of the river, taking into account all tributaries, and publish their findings in the Annual State of the River Report each year.
In 2017, the report indicated that while the depths of the upper and middle regions of the Mississippi were somewhat variable, the section from Cairo to the Gulf averaged a consistent and impressive 219 feet over the course of the year.
Of course, predicting an exact depth of the river for any given winter season is impossible due to numerous facets of weather and climate within its basin. However, for those looking for a place to explore and appreciate the majestic wintery presence of the Mississippi River, the southern stretch is an excellent option.
Regional Influences On Mississippi River Depths
When assessing the depths of the Mississippi River, it is important to take into account influences from neighboring waterways. On the northern end, nearby streams like the Minnesota and the Wisconsin rivers are likely to affect the capacity of the Mississippi River during different seasons, lending to its seasonably variable nature.
The same goes for the tributaries along the eastern part of the river. Rivers like the Ohio, the White, and the Arkansas will feed into the Mississippi, especially during the winter season when flooding is more likely.
Finally, the lower part of the river, also known as the Delta of the Mississippi, is particularly susceptible to influences from the Gulf of Mexico. This is especially true during periods of drought, when the Gulf effectively acts as a large lake, pressuring the water in the Delta upwards and literally pushing the Mississippi out of its own banks.
The intricate patterns of flooding and melting snow along the basin contribute to unexpected depths that are far from any averages found in the Annual State of the River Report. All of these patterns, taken together, lead to a complex network of water levels along the Mississippi.
When it comes to the depths of the diverse and ever-changing Mississippi River, it is not a matter of if, but rather of when and where.
Artificial Interventions On Mississippi River Depths
In recognition of the vast influence the Mississippi River has on the American economy and everyday life in general, many state and city governments have implemented interventions in the form of dams, locks, and flood gates along the river.
Developments like the Feathersville Dam project, completed in 1998 by the city of Davenport, ensure the stability of the water level in a particular stretch of the river, allowing businesses and cities along the way to prepare for a planned, steady rate of water flow throughout the year.
Similarly, the Emergency Levee Repair Project near St. Louis, Missouri, drastically reduced flooding by reinforcing weak spots in the river banks. By presenting flood-prone areas with this extra bit of protection, city governments can meet the demands of our ever-growing society while protecting important historical regions of the Mississippi River.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has similarly taken up the charge of intervening in the Mississippi River for the sake of stability and sustainability, often looking for more cost-effective and far-reaching methods of doing so.
In one such project near Minneapolis, a “Sheer Boom” system was installed to prevent carp from entering the locks. By simply engulfing the carp in bubbles, the particles of this cleverly designed sensor force the carp back into the river, keeping the locks free of obstruction and therefore safe for the navigation of ships and barges.
With each new intervention, the Mississippi River is ever closer to finding the perfect balance between its impressive raw power and our need for maintaining this magnificent resource.
Geological Impacts On Mississippi River Depths
The Mississippi River extends 2,350 miles through the heart of the United States, running through land that shifts and changes over time due to various geological activities.
It is no surprise then that the land formations that line the river have a profound effect on its depths. From the retreat of glaciers during the Ice Age to the deposition of sediment in its basin, the influence of landforms and sediment has caused the Mississipi to expand and deepen in certain areas over time.
The most obvious example of this is New Orleans, where the land and the river were greatly impacted by the delta formed by the flooding of the Red River in the 1950s. This, in combination with the release of sediment from the works of the Corps of Engineers, caused the river to dip down significantly around the Crescent City area.
In the northern regions of the river, the glacial deposits add a special feature to the ecology of the river. Thick and heavy chunks of sediment were dropped off by glaciers of thousands of years ago, solidifying the bed of the river and creating unique shapes along its floors.
It should also be noted that much of the erosion along the Mississippi River is caused by humans, such as the dredging of sand used as fill in today’s society. This, along with other activities like deforestation, urbanization, and general water waste have had a damaging effect on the depths of the river and its surrounding areas.
The Mississippi River is a unique landscape that not only has the power to shape its environment, but also the power to be shaped by it. Whether due to the presence of its tributaries, the intervention of humans, or the whims of nature, the depths of the Mississippi river can be vastly unpredictable in the winter where anything is possible
Agricultural Practices and Mississippi River Depths
Much of the Mississippi River is bordered by a vast and wide agrarian belt, made up of farming communities and agricultural industries of all sorts. This agricultural belt is incredibly important in finding an accurate measure of the Mississippi’s depths in the winter season, as many of the decisions made by local farmers in the area will inevitably have an impact on the river’s capacity.
Many of the croplands located within the Mississippi’s path are soaked in fertilizer, some of which are found to be highly soluble and quite prone to leaching into the river if the right conditions come along. This influx of fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals, if severe enough, can create an unhealthy environment in the river where very few marine species can survive.
The agricultural runoff into the river is especially of concern during the winter season when temperatures drop and vegetation starts to hibernate, signaling the end of the ideal growing season. Since this runoff enters directly into the river, its presence can be easily witnessed by the risks and dangers it poses to both humans and marine life.
It is said that the complexity of the river’s depths in the winter can be largely attributed to three factors: the presence of tributaries, the interventions of humans, and the general risks posed by agriculture around it. This in turn would formulate an interconnected system of layers and patterns that take the rules of nature into account and guide the river to ever-deeper depths.
The depths of the Mississippi River in the winter season is a fascinating context to consider, and a great indicator of how human interventions and general land formations interact with one another. For those looking for a remarkable dive into this natural wonder, a winter dip in the great Mississippi River is an experience unlike any other.
