Middle Mississippi River: A Critical Transportation, Flooding and Ecological Corridor Needs Mitigation and Restoration

The Middle Mississippi River extends south from the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers at St. Louis, Missouri to the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers at Cairo, Illinois. The length of the Middle Mississippi River is 310 km and the river falls 67 m or at the rate of 23 cm/km. Most of the shipping traffic from the Upper Mississippi, Illinois, and Missouri Rivers passes through this Middle Mississippi River corridor where it merges with the Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland River shipping traffic and continues down the Lower Mississippi River to the Gulf of America (formerly the Gulf of Mexico). The primary objectives of the paper are to document how geological and landscape resources of the Middle Mississippi River have contributed to the successful water resource and economic development of a historically rich region in North America and to identify the anthropic, environmental, and natural resource risks to the Middle Mississippi River basin. Historically, the Middle Mississippi is prone to flooding. A series of levees has been created to protect both urban and agricultural areas. In addition, the New Madrid floodway was created by the United States Corps of Engineers (USACE) to protect both urban and agricultural areas in 1930s to reduce the flooding at the confluence of the Ohio and Middle Mississippi rivers and the Lower Mississippi River. The Middle Mississippi River section is characterized by its diverse habitats, including floodplain forests, wetlands, and islands, which are crucial for various wildlife species. The Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge, established in 2000, plays a significant role in protecting these habitats and providing a sanctuary for migratory birds and resident wildlife. The Middle Mississippi River is a vital ecological and historical corridor, known for its rich biodiversity, recreational opportunities, and conservation efforts. American Rivers named the Middle Mississippi River among America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2014, shining a national spotlight on the impact a rebuilt levee at the New Madrid Floodway poses to wildlife habitat.