The Mississippi River is one of the most powerful and well-known waterways in the whole of North America. It is the second largest river throughout the United States and runs through the middle of the country. It travels through ten U.S. states before meeting the Gulf of Mexico, providing a natural border to many of these states. The Mississippi is also important to the many surrounding communities, providing a source of water for energy generation, fishing, transportation and leisure activities.
Over the years, the Mississippi River stage has been monitored at various points along its 2,348 miles before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Generally, for navigation and safety purposes, the stages are most commonly recorded at Baton Rouge, Natchez and Vicksburg in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas respectively. By monitoring the stage, engineers and forecasters can better understand the flow of the river and its potential risks. When a stage reaches a critical point, people living and working along the river are being notified of a potential flood. As a result, they can take necessary action to save their possessions in a timely manner.
Right now, the Mississippi River stage at Baton Rouge is at 17.1 feet, and the stage at Natchez is on 16.7 feet. The stage is also at 16.9 feet in Vicksburg, working out at an average water level of 16.9 across the three points. Although the current water level is above the major flood stage (12 feet), it is still within the normal range and manageable compared with the flood of 2019 (43.3).
The Mississippi River Commission?s mission is ?to maintain, operate, and preserve the Mississippi River for the benefit of the people who live along and benefit from the river.? The Commission brings together many leading experts from key stakeholders who discuss how to develop and manage the Mississippi River to guarantee its sustainability. To help meet the Commission?s mission, they have introduced several initiatives, such as planting and conserving vegetation, responding to floods and discharges, and discussing monitoring and irrigation projects. By having a shared responsibility, the river can remain at a comfortable level and help to maintain health amongst the entire watershed.
By forming a close relationship with the river and its environment, modern societies can further benefit from their efforts. Research has shown factors, such as the availability of the Mississippi River and its impact on the community, have propelled American communities to create and develop sustainable practices, through methods such as trading, sailing, and transportation. This can be seen as a clear example of how much of an impact the Mississippi River has had and continues to have in sustaining economic and social growth.
The Mississippi River also contributes to local industries, such as manufacturing and farming, and is home to many species of migratory birds and fish. According to recent studies, it is estimated that over 400 species of fish inhabit the river at any given point in time. This suggests the importance of the Mississippi River for the survival of many aquatic species and the overall environment.
Therefore, the Mississippi River?s current stage of 16.9 feet is good news, as it means that the river is staying within its scope of normalcy, and is therefore not posing any immediate safety threat to people in the area of the river. This not only suggests a healthy condition of the major waterway, but also indicates the potential benefits to the many communities connected to it and the environmental service that it can provide.
Connectivity Around the Watershed
As well as benefiting the communities living near to it, the Mississippi River is renowned for passing through many key cities such as St. Louis, Nashville and Minneapolis. The Mississippi River System (MRS) connects 31 states and was designed to reduce floods and transportation difficulties, from the Missouri River down to the Gulf of Mexico. Throughout this journey, the MRS is regularly monitored for safety concerns, which is becoming increasingly important as sea levels rise due to climate change.
The connection the Mississippi River make allows the variety of goods and resources to be easily transported from one state to the other. It has been instrumental in the development of many cities due to providing efficient and effective transportation for goods and products for commercial purposes. For example, the trade region of Memphis has continued to succeed thanks in part to the service of the MRS. The cost of putting goods on the river is far more economical than other methods, such as trucking and shipping, because a barge can handle the same amount of freight as between 15 and 18 trucks. Therefore, the strength of the MRS helps to grow the different industries in each of its visited cities.
Not only this, the consistency of the monitoring of the river?s stage is one of the many service the Mississippi River guarantees to its citizens. In terms of controlling the water flow, engineers employ a multitude of techniques. These include: dredging, levee reparations, dikes and dams, as well as monitoring for water pressure build-up and sudden water changes. All of these techniques are to ensure that the river can run as smoothly and elegantly as possible.
Monitoring the River Stage
In order to monitor the Mississippi River and its stage, forecasters employ the use of modern technologies, such as satellites, cameras, and sensors. These are extremely effective in being able to detect and predict any potential issues, such as floods and levee collapses. Knowing the Mississippi River stage is extremely important for the safety of nearby communities, as well as the sustainability of the MRS and its businesses.
For instance, hydrologists visit the river every month to collect water flow data. This is then matched with historical data to be able to make better predictions for the future. In addition to this, drones can also be used as an effective method to spot any issues. By using drones, experts can use the images to map surfaces and detect certain areas of concern.
However, it is important to note that the Mississippi River needs to be preserved to the highest standards. With a little more attention, the river can become even more efficient and consistent, leading to further sustainability and growth. To do this, more investment should be made in areas such as dredging, alongside further development of the monitoring technology.
Innovative Technologies
One of the biggest advances in terms of tracking the Mississippi River is the successful introduction of data robotics. Data robots, or smart buoys, have been used to accurately measure the river stage and monitor flow changes. They are equipped with advanced sensors which can detect and store data on the river stage, sediment and temperature.
In addition to this, technology such as Artificial Intelligence is also being used to determine any potential dangers, by creating 3D models of the the river. AI models analyse data such as river maps, historic flood stages and previous measurements, to be able to determine any potential increases or decreases in the water stage.
The real-time data collected by data robotics and AI systems is extremely useful, as it allows engineers and teams to respond to any changes in the river stage considerably faster. This offers a degree of certainty and reliability to people living near to the Mississippi River, that their risk of flood-related damages is minimised.
Conclusions
The current Mississippi River stage of 16.9 feet is a positive sign, suggesting a healthy and sustainable waterway. From an economic point of view, it holds the potential to benefit citizens of different states, and in particular those situated near to the river. From an environmental point of view, it suggests the future of the river in terms of water levels and safety is looking positive.
In terms of maintaining these positive results, investment should continue to be put into the implementation of advanced technologies. Technologies, such as data robotics and AI, have already proved to be great advances in understanding and monitoring the river, and can help us to ensure the Mississippi River stage remains within its scope of normality.
