THE FICKLE MISSISSIPPI

The Mississippi River has flooded and changed course many times over the years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has undertaken a long-range Flood Control program that has four elements: levees; floodways; channel improvement and stabilization; and tributary basin improvements. The channel improvement and stabilization program is aimed at retaining the present course of the river as well as at controlling floods. Great economic loss would be incurred as a result of major river course diversion. In the 1950's, the river threatened to change course and divert into the Atchafalaya River, cutting off Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Control structures are described. The channel stabilization program includes dredging dikes, cutoffs and revetments. The revetment program involves the laying of concrete mattresses to prevent the river from wearing away banks. The impact of the spring 1973 floods on the program is assessed.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/10480594
• Corporate Authors:

  American Society of Civil Engineers

  345 East 47th Street
  New York, NY  United States  10017-2398
• Authors:
  • Fairweather, V
• Publication Date: 1973-12

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 60-62
• Serial:
  • Civil Engineering
  • Publisher: American Society of Civil Engineers
  • ISSN: 0885-7024
  • Serial URL: http://www.pubs.asce.org/ceonline/newce/html

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Drainage; Flood protection
• Geographic Terms: Mississippi River
• Subject Areas: Hydraulics and Hydrology; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00051433
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: American Society of Civil Engineers
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 9 1974 12:00AM