Morphological changes of the Lower Mississippi River: geomorphological response to engineering intervention

摘要: During the twentieth century, planform and profile of Lower Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans, Louisiana, have been transformed by a series engineering modifications. These include steepening long removal most sinuous bends, extensive bank stabilization, regulating sediment movement dyke field construction. Prior these modifications, adjusted its morphology in planform, cross-section. Planform adjustment has, however, effectively negated other adjustments are now constrained. Nevertheless, analysis hydrographic surveys between 1949 1989 demonstrates that geomorphological response during post-cutoff period remained complex. Morphological involved phased patterns aggradation degradation, together with changes cross-sectional form, number, size, location shape pools crossings. Greatest occurred early (1949–64) upstream Vicksburg, Mississippi, but were accompanied complementary elsewhere which propagated downstream. The combined set responses may be interpreted respect dynamic equilibrium river responded additional energy created cutoffs increasing adapting flow resistance over various scales time periods. This study helps resolve paradoxes previous analyses, has significance for interpreting past impacts suggesting future management strategies River. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.