{"id":11960,"date":"2023-11-01T17:10:11","date_gmt":"2023-11-01T16:10:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=11960"},"modified":"2023-11-01T17:10:11","modified_gmt":"2023-11-01T16:10:11","slug":"is-the-mississippi-river-high-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/is-the-mississippi-river-high-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Mississippi River High Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"
Currently, the Mississippi River is the highest it’s been in two decades.<\/p>\n
As the largest river in the United States, the Mississippi is 2,340 miles long and touches several states, including Minnesota, Louisiana, and Texas. It has been a main hub for commerce and transportation since the early 1900s.<\/p>\n
Recent changes in weather patterns have caused the water to rise 8 feet since its average 7.5-foot depth in 2016. The dramatic shift has been worsening, with a drop of 12 inches already this month.<\/p>\n
The excess water has posed a serious risk to nearby towns and cities, as well as the delicate ecosystems located around it. Some local governments have already enacted regulations in an effort to slow the increased water levels.<\/p>\n
Public officials have been urging citizens to monitor their own surroundings and take extra precautions to protect their homes and families. For many, this includes increasing the distance of their homes from the water, creating sandbag walls for flooding prevention, and reinforcing existing infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Though the situation is concerning to many, there’s a silver lining. Experts suggest that this influx of water can be seen as a “natural reset” for the river’s surrounding environment. The increased levels can help restore wetland habitats and increase the number of great blue herons, gator agamas and other endangered species.<\/p>\n
With this said, governments, organizations and individuals must take preventative measures and advocate for natural river management practices to help ease the current issues.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n In order to keep water levels sustainable, many states and cities have implemented water conservation guidelines. Such initiatives help to reduce demand so that water resources are not overused with the current surge in water levels.<\/p>\n The implementation of strict water conservation policies should include a public education campaign to inform citizens on the importance of water conservation and correct water usage. This could include water rationing, rain harvesting, and grey water recycling.<\/p>\n Rain harvesting is an especially innovative form of water conservation. Instead of letting all rainwater run off, gutters can be installed to capture the water. The collected water can then be stored for future uses such as for irrigating crops, flushing toilets or washing clothes. This form of water conservation can help keep the water table from becoming too low.<\/p>\n Furthermore, local governments should invest in environmentally friendly infrastructure that can sustain the increase in water levels. Items like flood walls and water-based conservation parks help to protect the land from flooding and pollution.<\/p>\n Also, since the population of some of these towns and cities surrounding the Mississippi River is constantly increasing, the local government could consider public housing and transferring affected citizens to another area with better living conditions.<\/p>\n These are difficult decisions but the importance of taking such actions should be urged to help keep the river and its surrounding environment manageable and healthy. <\/p>\n<\/section>\n As the river continues to swell over its banks, floodings have become increasingly common, especially in the areas directly around the river. These floodings are not only a risk for property, but a risk to life as well.<\/p>\n When considering flood management, the goal would be to avoid flooding rather than relying on post-disaster recovery or damage control. This includes taking preventive measures such as building dams, levees, and flood walls. These are not only effective for prevention, but can also be used as channels for releasing excess water.<\/p>\n What should also be taken into account, though, is where all this excess water is coming from and how to prevent the same amount of flooding from happening the next time the river runs high. Proper channels need to be built to divert water away from populated areas before it can even reach the river.<\/p>\n The Mississippi river itself should also continue to be monitored. Alarm systems should be in place to alert citizens when water levels are too high and can be used to trigger preventative measures.<\/p>\n For instance, if surrounding rivers and lakes overflow during heavy rain, they should be connected to the Mississippi River via navigational channels and monitored carefully so that the excess water can be diverted away from the populated areas.<\/p>\n These types of alternatives put an emphasis on prevention rather than reaction and can potentially help the Mississippi River and its surrounding areas to better manage and adjust to their environment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n The high waters of the Mississippi River and its tributaries have greatly affected the agriculture and fishing industries along its banks. High water has been found to have various impacts on the soil, reducing the amount of fertile land available to farmers and reducing the productivity of crops.<\/p>\nWater Sustainability and Conservation<\/h2>\n
Dealing with Increased Floodings<\/h2>\n
Agriculture and Fishing Industries<\/h2>\n