The Effect Of Deepwater Damage On The Mississippi River
Flowing 2,350 miles from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world with a watershed spanning thirty-one states and two Canadian Provinces (Mississippi River, n.d.). The Mississippi River provides a suitable habitat to many species because of its suspended-sediment flow regime. However, damaged caused to the river by human intervention has caused the sediment flow trends in the 19th and late 20th century to decline. In 1936 to 1950, the average amount of sediment transported annually was approximately 500 million tons for the Mississippi River (Holle, 1952). However, nowadays the lower Mississippi River transports approximately 150 million tons of sediment annually (Thorne, 2008). The increased changes in land-use, river management, and engineering during these centuries affected the quantity and quality of sediment obtained from the Mississippi River and its tributaries (Thorne, 2008). The alterations of human settlement and development have damaged
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the ecosystem of the Lower Mississippi Delta and require a strategy for restoring this ecosystem.
Alterations of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers throughout history have significantly affected the distribution of flow and sediment loads of the Mississippi. Modifications to the Mississippi and its major tributaries include hastening the natural processes, reducing the sediment loads, creating river training and stabilizing structures, and constructing dams along the river (Combe & Tuttle, 1981). The Mississippi River depends on erosion and sedimentation. The floodplain of the Mississippi was once a major sediment source; however, today the floodplain only provides a minor amount of sediment due to bank stabilization. Channel bars have occurred as a result of these engineered modifications and have lead to significant degradation (Julien & Vensel, 2005).
Riverbed degradation, dewatering and deposition of silt in backwater habitats and downstream has also occur due to dikes and other flood control methods. This results in loss of valuable habitats, island, chites, backwater habitats, and the constriction of the river into a single, narrow channel (Julien & Vensel, 2005). Bank stabilization prevents the river from meandering and forming oxbow lakes. The dams created along the Mississippi and its tributaries intercept the sediment from one of the highest sediment producing regions in the United States, which have consequences downstream (Julien & Vensel, 2005).
As the Mississippi flows on, the damage we’ve inflicted continues to degrade the river and its surrounding ecosystems unless action is taken.
Restoration Principle number three states that to restore biodiversity and function it is crucial to restore aspects of the hydrological regime such as seasonal flooding, water table levels, and streamflow as historically accurate as possible. The restoration strategy should focus on allowing the river to flow naturally and use natural stabilizing techniques for the bank such as planting vegetation. Other goals include reducing riverbed degradation from dikes and allowing sediment to flow naturally down the Mississippi. The floodplains should be reintroduced and the dams should allow more water and sediment to flow through naturally. If the restoration strategy focuses on these goals, then the lower Mississippi Delta ecosystems should be restored, resulting in improved habitats, increased sediment flow, and riverbed
recovery.
the ecosystem of the Lower Mississippi Delta and require a strategy for restoring this ecosystem.
Alterations of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Illinois Rivers throughout history have significantly affected the distribution of flow and sediment loads of the Mississippi. Modifications to the Mississippi and its major tributaries include hastening the natural processes, reducing the sediment loads, creating river training and stabilizing structures, and constructing dams along the river (Combe & Tuttle, 1981). The Mississippi River depends on erosion and sedimentation. The floodplain of the Mississippi was once a major sediment source; however, today the floodplain only provides a minor amount of sediment due to bank stabilization. Channel bars have occurred as a result of these engineered modifications and have lead to significant degradation (Julien & Vensel, 2005).
Riverbed degradation, dewatering and deposition of silt in backwater habitats and downstream has also occur due to dikes and other flood control methods. This results in loss of valuable habitats, island, chites, backwater habitats, and the constriction of the river into a single, narrow channel (Julien & Vensel, 2005). Bank stabilization prevents the river from meandering and forming oxbow lakes. The dams created along the Mississippi and its tributaries intercept the sediment from one of the highest sediment producing regions in the United States, which have consequences downstream (Julien & Vensel, 2005).
As the Mississippi flows on, the damage we’ve inflicted continues to degrade the river and its surrounding ecosystems unless action is taken.
Restoration Principle number three states that to restore biodiversity and function it is crucial to restore aspects of the hydrological regime such as seasonal flooding, water table levels, and streamflow as historically accurate as possible. The restoration strategy should focus on allowing the river to flow naturally and use natural stabilizing techniques for the bank such as planting vegetation. Other goals include reducing riverbed degradation from dikes and allowing sediment to flow naturally down the Mississippi. The floodplains should be reintroduced and the dams should allow more water and sediment to flow through naturally. If the restoration strategy focuses on these goals, then the lower Mississippi Delta ecosystems should be restored, resulting in improved habitats, increased sediment flow, and riverbed
recovery.