The Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world. Spanning across states such as Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama, the river originates in Minnesota and flows southwards into the Gulf of Mexico. The width of the Mississippi River is said to be the widest at its shoreline in Arkansas, which is known as the sliver of ‘Big Lake’. On the other side of the lake, the width of the river decreases in magnitude as it passes through Louisiana.
According to physicists and hydrologists, the width of the Mississippi River is approximately 2.8 miles wide from its furthest point in the lake at the Arkansas-Louisiana border. The river can grow even wider during its summer months due to increased rainfall. The sudden wave of moisture in the environment causes the backwater systems and low lying areas in the river to swell, due to assumed high water levels from the rainfall.
Various environmentalists, conservationists and experts in the area have voiced concerns over the rapid decrease in the size and width of the river, due to the excessive dredging and the construction of dams, while the government of the United States defends its infrastructure projects meant to control flooding and mitigate water hazards. There is no formal boundary and thus, measuring the width of the Mississippi River has remained quite slow and tedious, due to the need for accurate topographic digital data.
Moreover, the digital satellite images often lag behind the current conditions and due to the rapid growth and shrinking patterns, measuring the river accurately has always remained difficult. In addition to assessing the physical width of the river, experts have also referenced the use of underwater robots, groundwater sensors and a host of technologies to assess the depth, width and the flow patterns of the Mississippi river. Several third-party researchers and companies such as the United States Geographical Survey continue to track and monitor the Mississippi River at various points and provide data to the public for analysis.
Groundwater Sensors
The groundwater sensors are instruments used, primarily to monitor the water levels in a particular region. Since the Mississippi river generally flows through one or two regions, determining the width of this river, based on water level observations made from the surrounding wetlands or tributaries, has been widely used by researchers, who wish to analyze and understand the river’s features in greater detail. In addition to determining the width, the groundwater sensors are also used to study the velocity of water at various points along the river, given the immense pressure and current speed.
Moreover, the USGS has also harnessed new technology such as the GPS, radar, SONAR and sonar buoys, which have been implemented at various points along the Mississippi River and its tributaries to measure its width precisely. Additionally, modern technologies and satellite imagery allow the public and experts to study the river’s width without having to physically observe and measure it. This technology has enabled researchers and other experts to track and pinpoint changes in the width of the Mississippi River with greater accuracy.
Such data has been taken further to more precisely calculate the groundwater and rainfall levels in the region, and in turn, formulate the width of the river. With advanced technology, experts have also calculated the average width of the Mississippi River and the range of widths that the river expands to, depending on the intensity of the rainfall and the season of the year.
Rainfall Intensity
The Mississippi River’s width is determined by the varying levels of rainfall, which is affected by the different seasons. During summer or monsoon seasons, when there is heavy precipitation in the region, the width of the river increases to accommodate the higher water levels. However, in dry seasons such as the spring and winter, the water level in the river tends to decrease and so does its width.
This seasonal variation in the width of the river has been observed for thousands of years, since the time the Native Americans inhabited the region. They have also documented their observations in their drawings and journals, which add another valuable source of information to the existing records. Apart from the water levels in the river, the width of the Mississippi River is also determined by the river banks, as well as the levels of sediment and topography.
Man-Made Constructions
The United States government has been involved in massive infrastructure projects such as dams and levees, which help to control flooding and protect the banks of the Mississippi River. Although such projects can be beneficial to prevent floods in certain areas, they also create a strain on the width of the river. With dams blocking water for a prolonged time, the width of the river reduces significantly and creates a pressure build up in the existing water body, which can cause great destruction in the form of flooding due to the higher force of water.
On the other hand, large levees or walls can disrupt the natural flow of the river and interfere with its width. There is also the possibility of large sediment accumulations near the dams, which can create dense blocks in the river, leading it to break out of its course, or extend its width.
Criticism
Despite the best efforts of the US government to control floods and protect the water bodies around the region, these measures have been met with criticism from environmentalists and conservationists, who are of the opinion that these projects are only a temporary solution to the problem and will ultimately lead to a decrease in the width of the Mississippi River, if the regulations are not abided.
Furthermore, the experts accused the federal government of failing to listen to the public concerns over their rapid construction projects near the Mississippi River, while they continued with their work without any direct dialogue or discussion with the citizens, leading to further deterioration of the natural conditions of the river.
Controversy and Debate
The Mississippi River has been the site of much controversy and debate, primarily over its width and the factors that have led to its existing conditions. While the US government is adamant about its infrastructure programs, the environmentalists and conservationists have demanded more discourse and discussion, so that these projects serve the larger purpose of protecting the people, as well as preserving and maintaining the natural beauty of the region.
Apart from this debate, many are also questioning the accuracy of the measurements taken to calculate the width of the Mississippi River, while separate studies are conducted to accurately assess the water levels in the region and determine the effects of the infrastructure projects on the water bodies themselves.
Restrictions and Regulations
The US federal government has also imposed various restrictions and regulations for companies and manufacturers wishing to use the Mississippi River for their benefits. This includes regulations on pollution and water runoff from the industries and companies, as well as restrictions on the type of waste generated in the river, so as to preserve the native flora and fauna.
Such measures are meant to protect the river from further damage and to maintain the width of the river at its current levels. Additionally, the US government has issued notices and warnings to those using the Mississippi River for any purpose other than recreational, such as commercial fishing and transportation.
Protection and Preservation
The Mississippi River has been called the ‘lifeblood’ of the region and it is no surprise that the public and the government are concerned over its protection and preservation. Apart from the severe regulations, the US government has also implemented a number of steps to protect the river from further damage and deterioration.
These measures include the implementation of flood control systems, environmental protection, water purification processes and increased monitoring of the river banks and tributaries. Despite the efforts, the width of the Mississippi River remains a matter of constant debate and speculation, as experts and the public continue to assess and analyze the existing conditions of the river.
