Due to changes at Old River and increasing sedimentation, a channel switch for the Mississippi River to follow the Atchafalaya River's path to the Gulf of Mexico is becoming more likely, with all that stands in the way of this being the Old River Control Structures and the US Army Corps of Engineers' eternal vigilance.

How would a theoretical channel switch occur? What are the most likely locations (Which one has an ominous name?)? What would be the consequences for New Orleans? Baton Rouge? The Lower Atchafalaya Basin? The rest of the United States? What can be done to prepare for this event? All of these questions are answered in today's episode.

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Previous Episodes in the Series:

Old River Control Structures: [ Ссылка ]
Morganza Spillway: [ Ссылка ]
History of Engineering Old River: [ Ссылка ]

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Show Notes:

For the effects on industrial plants on the Mississippi River, I reached out to BASF, Dow, Shell, Exxon, Entergy, Dupont, and the Port of South Louisiana to get some comments on the consequences of a channel switch. Unfortunately none of these companies responded to my requests.

Federal Law prevented me from recording around power plants and critical infrastructure, so please excuse the footage of boats sailing down the Mississippi used as a replacement.

Link to Kazmann and Johnson's Report: [ Ссылка ]

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