{"id":10179,"date":"2023-10-12T04:20:08","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T03:20:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=10179"},"modified":"2023-10-12T04:20:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T03:20:08","slug":"does-the-mississippi-river-flood-every-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/does-the-mississippi-river-flood-every-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Does The Mississippi River Flood Every Year"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mississippi River<\/b> has become a source of controversy in recent years due to its propensity to experience periodic flooding. While many are concerned about how regular flooding could lead to property damage, lost income, and displacement, there is a growing demand for action to be taken. It is important to understand how the river floods, why it floods, and what can be done to try and reduce the risk of flooding.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi River is a major North American river that flows through ten different U.S States, from Minnesota to Louisiana. It has been the main source of transportation and communication for thousands of years, not only due to its size but also due to its access to the Gulf of Mexico. Although the river has been beneficial in its historical and modern use, its also has the propensity to flood. In fact, the river has flooded multiple times in the last century, including in 1927 and 1993.<\/p>\n

Generally speaking, the Mississippi River is most likely to flood when there is an excessive amount of rainfall, combined with the disturbance of the mountains and tributaries that lead to the main river. This is when the volume of water can become too much for the riverbanks to handle, leading to overflows. In addition to recurrent flooding, the river also experiences its own version of large storms happening on the Mississippi, known as “ Freshets”. While these storms are not as destructive as hurricanes, they can still cause significant flooding.<\/p>\n

Although there is no surefire way to prevent the Mississippi River from flooding, there are some measures that can be taken to help reduce the risk. One measure is for the U.S Army Corps of Engineers to take part in river-management activities such as dredging, widening, and deepening the rivers to increase their capacity. Another measure is to create levees and dams to control the flow of water and redirect it away from areas that could be affected. Additionally, conservation efforts, such as water-use efficiency measures, could be taken to reduce the amount of water entering the river and therefore reducing the chance of flooding.<\/p>\n