Mississippi River

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is preparing for the Mississippi River to reach some of its highest water levels in recent years in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

The Mississippi River is the nation’s most endangered river, a national conservation group says, because of federal plans to cut flood relief programs as severe weather threats grow.

Cities along the Mississippi River are closing their flood gates and preparing for water to continue to rise after four days of torrential downpours soaked basin states with up to 15 inches of rain in some areas.

Mayors of cities and towns along the river are lobbying Congress for help to decrease flood risks.

A new congressional bill aims to improve fisheries and environmental quality in the Mississippi River basin with a federally funded commission. The goal is to fund grants for habitat restoration, fisheries research and the mitigation of invasive species.

High water levels for the Mississippi River in New Orleans spurred increased levee inspections from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, its New Orleans District announced Monday, Feb. 24.

The $63.7 million project would restore forests and wetland habitats along 39 miles of the Mississippi River.

Flood control along the Mississippi River is a central piece of a newly passed federal law — work that advocates believe is critical as the river basin sees more frequent and severe extreme weather events due to climate change.

For the past few decades, the trees that grow in the Mississippi River floodplain, known as floodplain forests, have been struggling. Although they're named for their ability to withstand the river's seasonal flooding, they've recently been overwhelmed by higher water and longer-lasting floods. Government agencies and nonprofits are attempting to reverse the forestland decline by planting new trees and volunteers are key to the effort.

The crew of a tugboat was quickly rescued when their vessel sank into the Mississippi River following a collision with a tanker ship in Louisiana.