The Mississippi River Is Backing Up
You might guess flood stages would move from north to south in the Mid-to-Lower Mississippi River as the waters travel north to south to reach the Gulf of Mexico. You’d be wrong.
Read MoreMS River in Danger of Being Captured by the Atchafalaya River
Dr. Y. Jun Xu, world-renowned hydrologist of Louisiana State University, explains how South Louisiana is on the verge of one of the worlds most detrimental natural disasters in history.
Read MoreThe River Stands Still
Potential energy, the energy of dropping from a height, is the main driver of MSR waters to the Gulf.
Read MoreReport of Recommended Changes to Economic Assumptions for PERS
Every two years, the actuaries for Mississippi’s defined benefit pension system release a report that examines the economic and demographic outlooks that underpin the financial planning. The newest one was released last month and the actuaries make some interesting recommendations for the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).
Read More2019 SMASHING MISSISSIPPI RIVER RECORDS
On April 9, 2019, the Mississippi River at Natchez will have spent 95 days this year above the 48 feet flood stage
Read More“The Levee’s Gonna Break”
Water now flows much faster to the Lower MS River due to changes in land use coupled with Corps of Engineers changes to the rivers. During the rainy season, water cannot get from the Lower MS River to the Gulf of Mexico as fast as it arrives from upstream. The bathtub that is the MS River from Natchez to the Gulf has been backing up since the late 1990s.
Read MoreRivers Flow to the Sea
Gravity is a fundamental law of nature. It makes rivers flow to the sea. If the natural flow is blocked, there are consequences. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers blocked about 40% of the Mississippi River’s peak flow to the Gulf at Morgan City in 1964. The delayed consequences today are unnatural floods on the Lower Mississippi.
Read MoreSecretary of State and Attorney General File Suit Over Flooded 16th Section Land in Southwest Mississippi
“This is a historic day for our State,” Secretary Hosemann said. “Today, our State and three public school districts allege the United States has taken property deeded to Mississippi 200 years ago.”
Read MorePERS Regulation Change on AG’s Opinion
Imagine being able to vote yourself better retirement benefits while you’re a beneficiary of a retirement plan. That’s the scenario in Mississippi if the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi follows an opinion from the office of Attorney General Jim Hood and changes its present regulation. This would allow legislators and other statewide officials who are also PERS retirees to keep collecting their benefits while in office.
Read MoreDeja Vu All Over Again
On January 15, 2016, the Mississippi River at Vicksburg reached 50 feet — 7 feet above flood stage. It was the highest January crest since 1879 when Congress put the Mississippi River Commission (MRC) and the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) in charge of flood control. A freak January flood. It caused the Mississippi deer season to close early along the river.
It happened again this year. On January 12-13, the river reached flood stage at Vicksburg and Greenville. And the deer season closed early. “Deja vu all over again,” as Yogi Berra said. The river has reached flood stage in January only three times in 140 years — but twice in the last three years.
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