Mississippi River Flooding – May 2017
Recent news reports of devastating floods in the greater Midwest region due to the extreme levels of rainfall have been widespread. In fact, large portions of the Mississippi River basin have experienced dramatic flooding with massive repercussions for humans, animals, plants, and the environment. So what are the root causes of the Mississippi River flooding in May 2017?
Rainfall & Snowpack
According to the National Weather Service, an unusually large amount of rain has fallen over the course of 2017 in the Midwestern United States, resulting in a substantial snowpack that has begun to melt. This, in turn, has led to an enormous increase in the volume of water moving into the Mississippi River and its tributaries. In addition, water levels in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie have risen to concerning heights, adding to the amount of water further downstream. Due to all of this water, the Mississippi River is experiencing unprecedented flooding.
Meteorological Theories
Meteorologists believe that the extremely wet weather can be attributed in part to the “La Niña” phenomenon. According to a senior forecaster at the National Weather Service, La Niña weather patterns can be characterized by a “regionally and seasonally enhanced cool wet air mass” that usually follows an El Niño event. La Niña is characterized by an intense and persistent ‘forming cloud’ across the Midwest United States. The NWS also warned that because La Niña weather is set to persist for the coming months, there is still likely to be additional flooding in the Mississippi River basin.
Man-Made Impact
Environmental scientists have also pointed out that one of the main reasons for the increasing levels of flooding in the area is the human-created activities that have degraded the environment. For instance, many of the riverside wetlands have been destroyed over the years and this means that the water has nowhere to go, leading to faster and deeper flooding. Additionally, building and maintaining levees, or banks alongside the river, cause the water to back up and put more pressure on the remaining wetlands downstream. While these measures have been designed to protect, ultimately they have had an adverse effect.
Response & Preparedness
In an effort to minimize the destructive effects of the floods, many state governments and non-governmental organizations have stepped in. Local authorities in Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee have issued evacuation orders, while the Army Corps of Engineers have been tasked with the job of opening and closing levees to ensure the flow of water is managed along the entire course of the Mississippi. In other areas, volunteers and state-funded organizations have been working to fix temporary levees, provide rescue services, distribute desperately needed supplies and aid to affected people, and clean-up the mess left behind. Despite these efforts, the destructive power of the river cannot be contained and has been causing significant damage in its wake.
Economic Repercussions
The floods have had a devastating economic impact on the region, with millions of dollars worth of damages being inflicted on the states of Arkansas and Missouri. In addition, it is estimated that the Army Corps of Engineers have already spent over $80 million to construct the levees and other flood-control infrastructure. These economic costs are further compounded by the loss of seasonal income for farmers, fishermen and other members of the local economy.
Conclusion
The rising levels of the Mississippi River have caused massive flooding that has had devastating effects for the people, plants, and animals of the region. In particular, the human-created alterations to the environment, along with the extreme rainfall caused by La Niña, have been the main culprits in causing excessive flooding. Additionally, there have been massive economic costs associated with the flooding, and while local authorities, the Army Corps of Engineers, nonprofits, and volunteers have been working hard to contain the situation and minimize the damages, the flooding has still wreaked havoc on much of the region.
Agricultural Implications
In the Mississippi River floodplains, much of the agricultural land and livestock have been immensely impacted by the flooding. For instance, farmers have had to take measures to protect their crops from the rising waters by installing sandbags and also to mitigate for losses. Additionally, livestock have been moved to higher ground to protect them from the flooding, and many dairy producers have been required to dump or find alternate accommodations for their products due to contaminated flood waters. For agricultural areas, this flooding is especially damaging, due to the massive losses of crops, livestock and produce.
Wildlife
The Mississippi River flooding has had repercussions for local wild life as well. For instance, the flooding has caused a disruption in animal feeding patterns and slowed the migration of cranes and other birds. Additionally, the sudden rise of floodwaters has posed a problem for aquatic life in the area, where fish and turtles have been resettled to temporary habitats to protect them from the high water levels. In addition, it is not uncommon for animals such as deer and coyotes to be found perplexed, attempting to find their way around the newly constructed levees.
Clean Up and Reconstruction
Flood victims are now struggling to return home, though the continuing rains compound the difficulties. Rebuilding of homes and towns that were destroyed in the floods has been severely hindered by the insurance complications and lack of resources and supplies at hand. Clean up efforts have added to the struggles, with it often being impossible to investigate and repair structures either washed away, or destroyed by the violence of the Mississippi River. Local police and emergency services have urged the public take caution when recovering from the flood, and to plan for the continued possible incidences of heavy rain and flooding.
Environmental Risks
Several other risks lie in the wake of the flooding, such as an abundance of murky, contaminated water and potential health risks when people are exposed to standing water carrying all types of bacteria. In addition, the increased silt and sediment in the water has made it difficult to manage the overall water quality, adding to the possibility of even more health complications and environmental destruction. Furthermore, the floods have served to scour away soils from land, changing the course of rivers, altering habitats and dispersing invasive species, all of which have had far reaching implications for the fragile Mississippi ecosystems.
