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Atchafalya Basin, Shortcut to the Gulf

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Atchafalya Basin, Shortcut to the Gulf a release valve, carrying large amounts of about 51,000 people. As a major center Geography fl oodwaters to the Gulf. of coastal fi shing and oil fi eld industries, Because the Atchafalaya is a natural dis- Morgan City is located about 15 miles up- In The tributary of the Mississippi, there has long stream from the mouth of the Atchafalaya. been a concern that during a major fl ood Most of the basin, however, is sparsely News™ the Mississippi’s fl ow might overpower populated with the rural population living the fl ood structures and be diverted per- along the numerous levees, representing manently into the Atchafalaya. Such an the highest ground. uncontrolled diversion could leave the Flooding remains a problem in the Neal G. city of New Orleans high and dry. Conse- Atchafalaya Basin, as little of the land is Lineback quently, the Corps of Engineers has gone more than a few feet (1m) above the nor- to great lengths to make certain that does mal levels of the river, bayous, lakes and not happen. swamps. When heavy precipitation events ATCHAFALYA The Atchafalaya River’s course mean- occur over the basin or upstream on the ders as it fl ows slowly southward across Mississippi or Red rivers, the Atchafalaya BASIN, the Atchafalaya Basin, which represents River can rise, spreading the fl oodwaters one of the largest U.S. wetlands. This across the adjacent areas and acting as a SHORTCUT TO plain-like basin is covered with bayous, fl oodwater containment area. swamps and marshes. The bayous are The basin’s marsh lands also help brunt THE GULF small streams that have broken away from any storm surge that may occur along the Massive fl ooding in the lower Missis- or parallel the main stream and merge Gulf Coast, reducing property damage. sippi Valley can threaten Baton Rouge, with adjacent swamps and marshes. The Losses of Louisiana’s shoreline to erosion, La., and New Orleans, as well as much of bayous are mysterious places because it is however, average 29 square miles (75 sq. the lowland along the Mississippi River. easy to become lost in their confusing web km.) per year. Coastal dredging by oil A large wetland called the companies has opened chan- Atchafalaya Basin, however, Atchafalaya River Keeps the Mississippi in Line nels into the coastal marsh- helps provide fl ood relief to lands, exposing the grass to Missour . TENN. much of the lowland by of- i R R saltwater intrusion and the iv er i fering a short-cut to the Gulf OKLAHOMA p shoreline to erosion. ip s s of Mexico. i Residents living near Little Rock s The Atchafalaya River is is Louisiana’s low coastline M part of the Mississippi Riv- Red River ARKANSAS have learned the dangers of er’s fl oodway, controlled by storm surges generated by MISSISSIPPI a series of man-made dikes, Gulf hurricanes and most levees and other structures. evacuate ahead of devastat- Dallas If it weren’t for these fl ood ing storm surges. During LOUISIANA control structures, the Mis- Jackson hurricanes Katrina and Rita sissippi River would have in 2005, many residents fl ed taken a shortcut to the Atch- TEXAS New Orleans and the Louisi- afalaya River with disas- ana coast to the larger cities trous results years ago. A around the Atchafalaya Ba- t Atchafalaya River Basin c h The Atchafalaya (ah- a BatonBaton RougeRouge sin. Baton Rouge to the east f a l CHAF-LIE-ah) River fl ows Lafayette a New and Lafayette to the west y a Orleans southward for about 170 R each received large numbers Houston . miles (270 km) across south- Morgan City of refugees, but Morgan City west Louisiana. It is a dis- 0 150 did not, perhaps owing in tributary of the Mississippi part to its potential for fl ood- Miles and Red rivers and is made Gulf of Mexico ing. While the populations of navigable by major dredging surrounding cities increased, ©2007 and fl ood control projects by Morgan City actually has ex- the U.S. Corps of Engineers. Geography in the News 7/20/07 R. Huerta perienced a small decline. Its name, Atchafalaya, is Nonetheless, residents of a Choctaw word meaning the Atchafalaya Basin are a “long river.” Sources: http://www.atchafalaya.org/home.asp; and hardy and independent lot The Atchafalaya begins http://www.cajunculture.com/Places/atchafal.htm with the reputation of tak- where the Red River fl ows ing care of themselves. Al- from Texas and Oklahoma though the periodic fl ood- and joins the Mississippi. Water control of interconnected streams. The swamps ing is a threat, those who love this wetland structures include a seven-mile long canal contain woody plants such as the bald consider it a national treasure. called the Old River that connects all three cypress, while the marshes contain marsh And that is Geography in the News™. rivers, taking some water from the Red grass. July 20, 2007. #894. and the Mississippi to maintain the nor- There are several small towns scattered (The author is a Professor Emeritus of mal fl ows in the Atchafalaya. During fl ood across the Atchafalaya Basin, most located Geography at Appalachian State University, times on both the Mississippi and the Red on the natural and man-made levees. The Boone, NC. University News Director Jane rivers, however, the Atchafalaya serves as largest urban place is Morgan City with Nicholson serves as technical editor.) ©2007 Maps.com.
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