How catastrophic flooding could change the course of the Mississippi River

[janetjanet998]

Cliff notes:

Huge amounts of water going down the MS river  this year is putting pressure on the control structures...each flood year dumps silt near the structures also causing problems. The structures are the only thing keeping the MS river from changing course ....if this happens Baton Rouge and New Orleans will loose most of the river....bye bye to barge traffic and oil inudustry

This year the MS River has been in flood since December near these structures , a new record for longevity 

They are going to try to take some pressure off by opening the Morganza Spillway  for only the 3rd time since it was built..Last Time in 2011

and Look at the precipitation forecast...YIKES!

 

best summary is this Youtube Video from a local..also an accuweather article below

 

 

How catastrophic flooding could change the course of the Mississippi River

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/ongoing-flooding-may-threaten-mississippi-rivers-old-river-control-structure/70008430

 

 

[janetjanet998]

another background articles

Part 1: America's Achilles' Heel: the Mississippi River's Old River Control Structure

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Americas-Achilles-Heel-Mississippi-Rivers-Old-River-Control-Structure

Part 2:

Escalating Floods Putting Mississippi River’s Old River Control Structure at Risk

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/Escalating-Floods-Putting-Mississippi-Rivers-Old-River-Control-Structure-Risk

Part 3

If the Old River Control Structure Fails: A Catastrophe With Global Impact

https://www.wunderground.com/cat6/If-Old-River-Control-Structure-Fails-Catastrophe-Global-Impact

 

[Diana]

Flooding is a very danderouse for people's lives and makes a lot of problems for the industry.