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Questions and Answers
What was the primary purpose of raising the levees along the Mississippi River?
To improve navigation and prevent flooding
What was the environmental impact of straightening the meanders of the Mississippi River?
It allowed for the development of the floodplain for farming, trade, and urban growth
What is the limitation of using hard engineering methods to control river floods, as seen in the Mississippi River management?
They are expensive and require regular maintenance
What alternative approach has the US Conservation Service adopted to mitigate flooding, and what are its benefits?
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What is the trade-off between short-term and long-term benefits of using hard engineering methods versus alternative approaches to control river floods?
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Study Notes
Mississippi River Management
- The Mississippi River in the USA has been managed for over 100 years to improve navigation and prevent flooding.
- Levees were raised to 15 meters along a 3000 km stretch of the river.
- Meanders were straightened over a 1750 km stretch, enabling development of the floodplain for farming, trade, and urban growth, including cities like New Orleans.
- 106 dams have been constructed on the Mississippi to hold back floodwaters.
- These hard engineering methods are expensive and require regular maintenance, making them unsustainable.
- Recently, the US Conservation Service has spent $25 million buying flood-prone farmland and converting it to natural conditions.
- This sustainable approach requires no maintenance and has no obvious negative environmental impacts.
- Hard engineering methods are more effective at controlling river floods in the short term.
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Description
The Mississippi River has been managed for over 100 years to improve navigation and prevent flooding. Learn about the methods used to control the river and their sustainability. Test your knowledge on the Mississippi River's development and management.
