Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Upper Mississippi River flows 1,462 kilometers from St. Anthony Falls in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the mouth of the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois (Fig. 2). The major period of valley scouring began about 15,000 years ago when the Wisconsin Glacier began to melt, increasing river flow ( Schwartz and Thiel 1963 ; Wright 1972 , 1989; Matsch 1976 ; Ojakangas and Matsch 1982 ). About 12,700 years ago, the retreating Wisconsin Glacier blocked the northward drainage routes of its meltwaters toward Hudson Bay, forming glacial Lake Agassiz. This huge lake spilled over its southern rim for about 2,700 years, forming the glacial River Warren and carving the large valley now occupied by the Minnesota River. The River Warren was much larger than the present Minnesota River but carried little sediment. The glacial St. Croix River provided additional sediment-free overflow from Lake Duluth (glacial Lake Superior). The combined flow of the two rivers greatly increased the erosive capacity of t ... [Read More]
Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center - river flood forecasts rainfall
Tangipahoa River ',LEFT, CAPTION,' Amite/Comite Lake Pontchatrain River Basins ... Arkansas River ',LEFT, CAPTION,' Lower Ohio/Mississippi/Arkansas Rivers ... Little Missouri River ',LEFT, CAPTION,' Ouachita River Basin above Felsenthal ... [Read More]
Mississippi River Facts
Communities up and down the river use the Mississippi to obtain fresh water and to discharge their industrial and municipal waste. We don't have good figures on water use for the whole Mississippi River Basin, but we have some clues. A January, 2000 study published by the Upper Mississippi River Conservation Committee states that close to15 million people rely on the Mississippi River or its tributaries in just the upper half of the basin (from Cairo, Il. to Minneapolis, MN). A frequently cited figure of 18 million people using the Mississippi River Watershed for water supply comes from a 1982 study by the Upper Mississippi River Basin Committee. The Environmental Protection Agency simply says that more than 50 cities rely on the Mississippi for daily water supply. ... [Read More]
NPS AEP: Ancient Architects of the Mississippi
WONDERS OF GEOMETRIC PRECISION, the earthworks of the lower Mississippi were centers of life long before the Europeans arrived in America. As was the river itself. The alluvial soil of its banks yielded a bounty of beans, squash, and corn to foster burgeoning communities. Over the Mississippi’s waters, from near and far, came prized pearls, copper, and mica. ... [Read More]
River Watch - Upper Mississippi River Basin
The National Weather Service continues to create easier ways for you to receive your hydrologic information. The River Watch Mississippi River Basin site is an example of this desire. As this site evolves, it will include data in a consistently formatted product. In the mean time, please send us your comments so that we can better serve you. ... Upper Mississippi & Illinois River Basin Forecasts ... [Read More]
UMESC - About the Upper Mississippi River System
River modifications, control projects, and floodplain development have had wide-ranging effects on the natural processes—particularly hydrology—that drive and maintain the floodplain ecosystem. Sixty-six percent of the nearly 1,200,000 acres in the Upper Mississippi River floodplain are now used for crop and pastureland. These agriculture lands are isolated from the normal floodplain function by extensive levee systems. Although lock and dam construction originally created a significant increase in and diversity of habitat for fish and wildlife, sedimentation has since resulted in serious degradation. Present erosion rates in the basin exceed the rate of soil formation, resulting in a net increase of sediments entering the Mississippi River. The sediments fill in backwater areas and increase turbidity, carry excessive nutrients into the aquatic ecosystem, and bring in pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Continued sedimentation will degrade the ... [Read More]
Mississippi National River & Recreation Area (National Park Service)
These 72 miles are a significant and representative stretch of the Mississippi. They contain the only gorge and waterfall on the main course of the entire 2,350 miles of river. Named St. Anthony Falls in 1680, the falls were later used to generate power for logging, flour milling, and electricity for a growing population. Less than ten miles away, the confluence of the Mississippi and Minnesota rivers was an early outpost for the American military and an important crossroads for fur traders. Further downstream, St. Paul marked the upper end of steamboat navigation and was the jumping off place for tens of thousands of settlers. And the Vermillion River bottoms are excellent examples of floodplain forest ecology. From visitor centers to trails, from industrial centers to Mississippi River backwaters, this park has a bit of something for everyone. ... [Read More]
Mississippi River Basin
Years of human alterations and uses have, however, taken their toll. The locks and dams that allowed our early agrarian and industrial society to thrive and prosper have also altered the river from its original meandering state, affecting fish and wildlife habitat and contributing to costly flooding. The separation of the river from its original floodplain and the loss of millions of acres of wetlands, many drained for agricultural purposes, have further hindered the river's ability to absorb and protect against the torrents of spring floodwaters. Although billions have been spent to tame the river and reduce flood damages, recent floods have cost taxpayers billions and resulted in significant loss of life. Nutrients discharged from the river system into the Gulf of Mexico have contributed to a "dead zone." ... [Read More]
LMRFC - Mississippi and Ohio River Forecast
000SRUS44 KORN 181355RVAORN RIVER FORECAST...LOWER OHIO/MISSISSIPPI RIVER LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER FORECAST CENTER NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SLIDELL LA 910AM CDT MON JUL 18 2005 PROJ FLOW TDA D1 D2 D3 D4 D5 BARKLEY DAM 28 28 28 28 28 15 KENTUCKY DAM 37 40 40 40 40 20 RIVER STAGE FORECASTS (A)BV STATION FS 7AM 24HR ....F O R E C A S T..... (B)LO STG CHG 0719 0720 0721 0722 0723 CREST/DATE FS OHIO RIVER SMITHLAND TW 40 12.8 +1.1 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 12.2 PADUCAH 39 15.8 +0.9 15.7 15.7 15.7 15.7 15.7 CAIRO 40 14.2 -0.5 14.6 14.6 14.4 14.1 13.9 MISSISSIPPI RIVER CAPE GIRARDEAU 32 12.6 -0.8 11.6 10.8 10.2 9.8 9.5 NEW MADRID 34 4.1 -1.9 4.1 4.2 4.1 3.9 3.7 TIPTONVILLE 37 6.7 -1.9 6.2 6.3 6.2 6.0 5.8 CARUTHERSVILLE 32 8.0 -1.7 7.1 7.1 7.1 7.0 6.8 MEMPHIS 34 2.2 -1.4 1.0 -0.2 -0.5 -0.5 -0.6 HELENA 44 10.1 -1.7 8.8 7.7 6.6 6.3 6.3 ARKANSAS CITY 37 11.9 -0.2 10.9 10.0 9.2 8.5 8.3 GREENVILLE 48 22.5 0.0 21.9 21.0 20.2 19.5 19.1 VICKSBURG 43 15.6 +0.8 15.6 15.0 14.1 13.3 12.6 NATCHEZ 48 22.2 +1.1 23. ... [Read More]
Mississippi River Forecasts - Ohio River, Missouri River, Illinios River
in order to make it easier to get all of your Mississippi mainstem river forecast information from one central location. Just click on the river basin of your choice to get the updated stages and forecasts. ... The National Weather Service continues to create easier ways for you to receive your hydrologic information. The River Watch Mississippi River Basin site is an example of this desire. As this site evolves, it will include data in a consistently formatted product. In the mean time, please send us your comments so that we can better serve you. ... [Read More]
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