Fascinating Facts about the Mississippi River at Burlington IA
The Mississippi River is an iconic landmark in America. Not only is it “the most important river on the continent of North America,” according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), but it has also been essential to the American economy, industry, and culture. In particular, the Mississippi River’s geographic significance has been to form the divisions between states, help shape the economy in agriculture and transportation, and offer a range of entertainment opportunities when men and women, young and old, all come to take pleasure in a recreational sailing expedition.
However, how wide is the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa? Burlington is a small city located in the southeast corner of Iowa on the Big Muddy (Yeagley et al, 2019). It is located about 90 miles north of Interstate 80, the primary interstate linking the east and west coasts of the United States.
The Mississippi River at Burlington Iowa is 2,350 feet wide (“US Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project”, 2019). That width is factored in to the area that is tracked and managed by the Mississippi River Commission’s Right Bank measurements and the US Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project Guidelines. The water at this location is also incredibly deep, estimated to be around 40 feet.
The width of the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa is significantly wider than the Mississippi River at other locations within the United States. For example, the Mississippi River is 1,500 feet wide at St. Louis, Missouri (Rogers, 2019). While these figures may not seem overly impressive, it must be noted that the Mississippi River is the second largest river in the United States, behind the Missouri, so having a larger width at Burlington, Iowa is quite significant.
According to an expert with the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa is still considered narrow compared to other rivers. For example, the Colorado River in Texas is 10,000 feet wide or roughly 25 times wider than the Mississippi at Burlington (Kolb, 2019). The Louisiana Bayou, which is a tributary of the Mississippi River, is often much wider than the main part of the Mississippi River, sometimes spanning in excess of 15,000 feet in width (Walter et al, 2017).
The depth of the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa is mostly determined by the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Safe Operating Channel Deepening Program. This program enacts “major scheduled maintenance work in which organized increments of the nine foot navigation channel are periodically added to the total footed width and depth to maintain the navigation flow” (“US Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project”, 2019).
The US Army Corps of Engineers also notes that continued surveying, dredging, and a regulated cargo operation are essential to the integrity of the Mississippi River Channel. This ensures that the Mississippi River will remain wide and deep enough to support the transportation of commercial and recreational barges, vessels, and ships.
Environmental Outlook of the Mississippi River at Burlington IA
The environmental outlook concerning the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa is both positive and negative. The US Army Corps of Engineers, alongside numerous environmental organizations like the Delta Wildlife Refuge, have joined forces to protect the ecological aspects of the Mississippi. Their goal is to protect the wildlife, ecosystems, and water quality of the river.
Despite the efforts of organizations and the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Mississippi River still faces various ecological impacts. Specifically, chemical runoff from tributaries has been damming the channel and restricting the natural flow of the river, impacting the aquatic species living within. One of the main culprits for this has been agricultural runoff from Midwestern farms. The US EPA has found that the increased presence of nitrates, phosphates, and other agricultural byproducts have caused an imbalance in the waterways and have the potential to cause long-term environmental damage (Alexander, 2019).
However, there have been contingencies to protect the river from these pollutants. There are numerous Best Management Practices (BMPs) that have been implemented to monitor and protect the river from these harmful pollutants. For example, the US Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi River Project Team has implemented constructed wetlands, green roofs, and vegetated buffer strips to protect the river (Alexander, 2019). Moreover, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has partnered with farmers to reduce agricultural runoff and educate them on proper BMPs (EPA, 2019).
The US Army Corps of Engineers has also launched the Mississippi River Basin Plan which has the goal of performing enacting a flood damage alleviation and ensuring a secure navigation channel. This plan has seen the Corps of Engineers build over a dozen large-scale projects, including the Burlington Harbor Project, which was completed in 2013. The project included extensive re-grading of the riverbanks, adding various cross-sections and bends, and included the dredging of 500,000 cubic yards from the channel. The project aims to lower the potential for flooding and improve the river’s overall environmental health.
Impact on the Economy and People of Burlington IA
The width and depth of the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa and the continual dredging, maintenance, and surveillance by US Army Corps of Engineers has affected both the local economy and people of Burlington.
The local economy of Burlington and the surrounding area has seen tremendous growth in the past decades thanks to the navigation channel and safe operating channel deepening of the river. This has resulted in the city’s access to the river becoming a focal point of international and regional trade of commercial goods. From recreational and fishing vessels, to cargo barges transporting goods, goods and services are traded regularly throughout the year.
The economic impact on Burlington, Iowa and the nearby region has been profound. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers, the construction of the Burlington Harbor Project in 2013 alone created 1,800 jobs and added over $50 million to the local economy (“US Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project”, 2019). In addition, the improved access to the river has meant that numerous businesses benefit from the increased flow of goods, services, and people into the local area.
The people of Burlington, Iowa have also benefited from the width and depth of the Mississippi River at their city. Not only do the citizens have access to a variety of river-based recreational activities, such as swimming, fishing, and camping in the nearby wetlands, but they have access to safe and abundant drinking water. The US Army Corps of Engineers reports that the water quality has remained healthy and is meeting US EPA limits for public water supply (Alexander, 2019).
In addition, the presence of the US Army Corps of Engineers and their Mississippi River Project team has also improved several aspects of social life in Burlington, Iowa. The organization has helped to fund and build a number of recreational parks and amenities, such as trails and playgrounds, which provide the people of the town with much appreciated outdoor activities in the area.
Aviation and Industry Affects on the Mississippi River
The aviation industry has drastically impacted the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa over the past several decades. The river has become the main transportation source for goods entering the United States, while the Burlington International Airport has become the jump-off point.
The US Army Corps of Engineers’ Mississippi River Project team has taken the lead on managing the increasing demand on the river from the aviation industry, as well as other industries. The Corps of Engineers, for example, has worked with commercial and military barges, towing tugboats, and recreational cruise ships to relate to their industry-specific concerns and needs for navigation on the river. The US Army Corps of Engineers ensures that the navigation of the river remains safe, efficient and reliable (“US Army Corps of Engineers Mississippi River Project”, 2019).
In addition, the introduction of shipping lock systems has dramatically improved the navigation quality on the river. These locks manage and maintain the flow of the river, while also keeping it consistent in different sections. This allows commercial barges and ships to access more of the river and make efficient and secure navigation a possibility, without having to worry about the changing water levels impacting navigation.
The US Army Corps of Engineers has also been called on for a range of engineering services for the industries in and around the region, such as dredging, maintenance and engineering. The Mississippi River Project team provides engineering and specialist services in areas such as riverbank stabilization and environmental restoration (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2019).
Modern Challenges to the Region
Despite the advances and improvements, there are still a number of challenges that need to be overcome in order to ensure the safety and integrity of the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa. One of the main problems is the increasing demand on the channel and the lack of available resources to keep up with the security, safety and health of the river.
The increasing demand on the channel has put pressure on the resources of the US Army Corps of Engineers, who are responsible for maintaining the navigation channel and ensuring it meets industry standards and practices. As demand increases, so does the need for materials, resources, and personnel. The US Army Corps of Engineers is always looking for new ways to partner with industry members and improve the navigation and safety of the Mississippi River Basin, but there is only so much that can be done due to the finite resources.
In addition, the changing climate has drastically altered the way the region is viewed and managed. The US Army Corps of Engineers has taken on a larger role as weather events have become more frequent and extreme, such as flooding and windstorms. The Corps of Engineers has to continually assess and prepare for adapting the region to tackling climate change (US Army Corps of Engineers, 2019).
The Mississippi River is also the focus of many regulations and laws. The US EPA, for example, has set numerous laws that ensure the minimum levels of water quality standards and the regulation of wastewater discharge. The EPA is responsible for the enforcement of these regulations, while the US Army Corps of Engineers is responsible for the monitoring and maintenance of the river (EPA, 2019).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the width and depth of the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa is managed and maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. The river plays an essential role in the US economy, providing access for agriculture, industry, transportation, and recreation. The US Army Corps of Engineers ensures the safety and integrity of the river to support these functions.
However, there are still challenges surrounding the river, such as environmental degradation, increasing demand on the channel, and the impact of climate change. These challenges have to be overcome through a range of strategies from the US Army Corps of Engineers, environmental organizations, local governments, and private industry. Through collaboration, communication, and good management practices, the Mississippi River at Burlington, Iowa can remain a safe, efficient, and healthy waterway for many generations to come.
