Mississippi River Course Change Likely

By analyzing maps and topographical information, this post from Data Pointed shows how the Mississippi River is likely to change course and head towards lower ground.

1 minute read

May 25, 2011, 7:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


The river can be expected to move towards Louisiana's Atchafalaya River, according to this post,.

"On this map, each is at the approximate height of a typical spring flow. At top center, we see the Old River Control system and its branching east-west connector channel. The gap in the linear levee west and just before the last turn of the Mississippi is the Morganza Spillway.

At equal latitude, the Mississippi runs across a narrow terrace of land, much higher than the neighboring Atchafalaya. In many spots, at flood stage, a single levee appears to be the only barrier between the two – a fact that should have even the most Katrina-jaded New Orleanian sweating beads."

Tuesday, May 24, 2011 in Data Pointed

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