Managing Floods in Large River Basins in the USA: The Mississippi River

摘要: The Mississippi River was the first theater in which federal government sought to control floods and improve navigation through efforts of US Army Corps Engineers, initially under a “levees only” philosophy, later revised (after disastrous 1927 flood) include multiple approaches, such as backwater areas flood bypasses. Tributaries Project successfully conveyed 2011 (with more rainfall than fell 1927), but operation critical bypasses threatened by encroachment buildings within bypasses, permitted local governments. Structures designed concentrate flow for benefit can result higher stages thus undermine efforts. Allowing floodplains naturally, much possible, have benefits not only ecosystem also managing minimize inundation cities.