Mississippi Delta Case Study

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Previously, the most controversial issue about the Mississippi Delta was whether it was shaped like a leaf or like a foot of a bird. However, these simple days are no longer; the famous delta faces a great amount of crucial controversy. In the summer of 2005, Hurricane Katrina and Rita caused the Mississippi Delta to suffer severely. When the monstrous storm hit, it demolished “nearly 2,000 square miles of deltaic wetlands,” meaning that even the defense against floods was destroyed. When the delta was devoid of protection, this lead to the river no longer being able to replenish the necessary sediments to continue the life of the delta. This unfortunately was not the only tragedy that struck this region within a short span of five years. …show more content…

The oil company was fined heavily though, and the funds are being used to eradicate the damaged imposed on the environment. However, money itself will not solve this massive issue that is escalating rapidly; “a football field-sized piece of land sinks into the Gulf every hour.” The reality includes that the lifespan of the delta is dwindling quickly. The government stepped in and hired engineers to find a resolution for this devastating issue. A competition was conducted to find the most efficient solution to save the delta. However, there is a lot of controversy dealing with altering the delta, which the argument begins with as to whether the engineers should even act on it or not. This paper will explore the possible implications if engineers decide to “engineer their way out of the …show more content…

The delta region is currently experiencing more coastal land loss than all other states in the adjoining region combined. Two tragedies that have perturbed all of America have had their greatest impact on the state Louisiana, where this delta calls home. The first devastation was Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This hurricane was a category 4 when it hit land, less than a hundred miles away from New Orleans. Overall, the levees failed, the fishing industry was depleted, numerous lives were lost, and infinite lives were negatively impacted. However, the storm destroyed the Mississippi Delta most greatly due to the deterioration of the levees. Since the levees failed and the previously connection between the river and its delta were severed, the delta was left in disarray. Hurricane Katrina also drowned the wetlands that surround the Delta, that also act as a barrier against flooding. The delta was then “sediment-starved” as the disconnection between the river and delta left the delta with a lack of silt and clay to restore itself. By the river and delta not being connected, the wetlands, which rely on the sediment for their sustainability, cannot

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