The magnitude of the Mississippi River is easily lost in its immense breadth – spanning more than 2,300 miles, the majority of it from its source in Minnesota to its mouth in Louisiana – and its unpredictable nature often prove volatile for communities in its path. Vicksburg, Mississippi is no exception; located in the state’s southwest corner, visitors and residents alike depend on the river for transportation, recreation, flood protection, and environmental resources. Despite the long history of human dependence on the river, its river stage often suffers from problematic seasonal fluctuations, especially in Vicksburg.
The Mississippi’s river stage is measured in terms of its water level in a particular location, typically as a range from feet above sea level. In Vicksburg, the upstream river stage reaches heights of up to around 35–41 feet during both the spring season, when the snow melts in the North, and the fall season, when rains typically accompany cooler weather.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for measuring and tracking the river stage at Vicksburg. According to USACE’s interpretation, when river stages reach approximately 35 feet, the river is considered to be in a “Minor” flood stage, prompting USACE to recommend sandbagging to protect against flooding a flood prone area; at 37 feet, USACE recommends evacuations for certain low-lying areas; and at 41 feet, the river is considered to be at a “Moderate” status, meaning the river is over the major levees and levees by the city need to be closed.
The USACE monitors the Mississippi River’s stage through a number of tools that allow real-time tracking of the river’s stage. These tools include the Orthophoto Mapping System, which is a digital map that is updated regularly and provides detailed information on the river’s stage, as well as the Automated River Level Network, which provides an interactive graph for the river’s stage over time.
The latest available data from the USACE indicates that the river stage at Vicksburg is at 13.1 feet, which is considered below the “Minor” flood stage. Despite its current low-level status, the river stage at Vicksburg is predicted to rise this week as the result of anticipated rainfall in the region. In order to protect against the potential for flooding, residents and visitors are encouraged to pay attention to the river’s stage and prepare accordingly.
Safety Tips
In order to stay safe during the potential flooding of Vicksburg, the USACE is recommending a few safety measures that should be followed by both visitors and residents. Firstly, they recommend that individuals stay up to date with the latest river stage reports and be prepared to move to higher ground if need be. The USACE also suggests that people stock up on emergency supplies, including at least three days’ worth of food and bottled water, in case of a flood emergency. Additionally, they suggest that individuals monitor the river’s stage closely and keep alert to region-wide flooding warnings that could be issued at any time.
In addition to stocking emergency supplies and monitoring the river’s stage, the USACE suggests that residents move valuable furniture and items off the ground floor and keep them out of the reach of floodwaters. Basement steps or crawl spaces should also be sealed off to prevent the ingress of the river’s water, and backup electrical and water connections should be in place in case of power outages. Finally, the USACE recommends that people be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and ensure that reliable transportation is always on hand.
Community Resources
The USACE further advises that individuals in the Vicksburg area make use of the available resources regarding flood preparedness, and that they familiarize themselves with their local emergency response plan should a flood emergency arise. They also suggest that individuals reach out to their local civic leaders or emergency management officials for added information on how to stay safe in the event of a flood.
In addition to the usual community resources, Vicksburg residents are encouraged to utilize the USACE’s Automated River Level Network, which allows the user to track both the Mississippi River’s stage and its tributaries in real time. Furthermore, USACE’s Flood Response Team is available 24/7 to help answer any questions that the public may have regarding the rivers stages in their area.
Environmental Changes
The Mississippi River’s stage at Vicksburg has seen vast changes in its levels due to larger environmental effects such as climate change. Historically, rainfall around the region has been increasing, resulting in larger flooding episodes. As a result, the USACE has been monitoring these changes and providing strategies to lessen harmful effects and build better flood mitigation strategies for the area.
The USACE works to ensure that the Mississippi River is safe for navigation and all the recreational activities it offers to citizens. This includes working with environmental organizations to increase vegetation cover around the riparian zone of the river, minimizing the erosion of the banks and increasing the stability of the ecosystem. Additionally, the USACE is building new control structures, such as levees, to protect against larger floods.
In order to further prevent against the effects of floods, the USACE encourages the use of floodplain management strategies such as buyouts, flood insurance, and levee construction. These strategies will help reduce the potential risk of flooding and assist in reducing the amount of damage to property and infrastructure.
Research Efforts
In addition to the USACE’s efforts, researchers from state universities and agricultural research centers have been working to better understand the river’s stage fluctuations. By studying climate and hydraulic models, they have been able to predict more accurately the changes in the river’s stage and the possible damages that could arise from them. This research provides valuable information to inform mitigation efforts and advance the safety of the communities along the Mississippi River.
Researchers have also been looking at how the Mississippi River’s stage might be affected by the presence of invasive species. For example, the USACE has been monitoring the impacts of the Asian Long-horned beetle on the forests along the river’s banks. As the beetle grows more widespread, it causes the trees to become weaker, leading to higher water levels and increased flooding potential.
The researchers’ goal is to find strategies to combat the spread of the beetles, thereby making the forests more resistant to flooding and decreasing the environmental threat from the Mississippi River. In particular, they have looked at how natural predators of the beetles could be introduced to help control the population and reduce its impact on the riparian zone.
Outlook
The Mississippi River’s stage at Vicksburg remains a topic of interest for many due to its economic importance and the potential for devastating floods. The USACE continues to monitor the river’s stage and provide updates on its data, while researchers seek ways to mitigate the risk of floods and reduce damages. Furthermore, groups such as the Nature Conservancy are working to restore the riparian ecosystem along the river and protect against the potential impacts of floods.
In the future, the USACE, alongside federal and state governments, will likely continue to develop and implement flood preparedness strategies. Additionally, research institutions around the area will look to better understand the complex environment of human-river interaction and work to reduce flood potential and potential damages. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure the continued safety of those communities and visitors that look to the Mississippi River for all its natural beauty.
