De-constructing the Mississippi Restoring A Continental System
Mississippi Sub-Basin
Ecological Systems are Defined By Two Key Characteristics:
Tributaries and Dam network
(1.) the unit of nature is often defined in terms of a geographical boundary, such as a watershed, and (2.) abiotic components, plants, animals, and humans within this unit are considered to be interlinked.
The Mississippi River Ecosystem FACTS Length: 2,320 miles Stretches the North American Continent spanning 2 countries The Watershed : drains 41% of the US = 1.25 million sq mi includes 31 states; 2 Canadian provinces The River: Falls 725 feet Touches 10 states Is separated into 2 Regions, upper and lower defined by the convergence of the Ohio River
Mississippi Political Juggernaut There is a disconnect in the design disciplines between the scale in which we affect ecological systems and the conventional scale professionals address urban problems. In order to address the challenges that have arisen out of the Mississippi River, designers need to operate beyond geopolitical boundaries and begin planning at a mega-region and even the continental scale.
Mississippi River Valley 26 Navigational Dams
Mississippi River Commission U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers
Minneapolis St. Paul
Secretary of War
Lock & Dam System
$ Sub-Commissions-2 o
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UPPER
Mis
sou
Upper Mississippi River
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iver o
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Minnesota
$
Wisconsin $
Iowa $
Illinois
$
iver
Ri
$
$
Tennessee $
Governor
Kentucy
Arkansas $
Mississippi $
Louisiana
$
Cities- 125 Mayor
as R
d
States- 10 Missouri $
Memphis
Re
$
St. Louis
ri R
ans
Lower Mississippi River
R
LOWER
Ark
$
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Baton Rouge New Orleans
Bemidji, Minnesota
Prescott, Wisconsin
Preston, Iowa
Galena, Illinois
Hannibal, Missouri
Columbus, Kentucky
Tiptonville, Tennessee
Barfield, Arkansas
Tunica, Mississippi
Morganza, Louisiana
Grand Rapids, Minnesota
Diamond Bluff, Wisconsin
Lansing, Iowa
Savanna, Illinois
Louisiana, Missouri
Hickman, Kentucky
Reverie, Tennessee
Tomato, Arkansas
Greenville, Mississippi
St. Francisville, Louisiana
Jacobson, Minnesota
Hager City, Wisconsin
Marquette, Iowa
Fulton, Illinois
Clarksville, Missouri
Memphis, Tennessee
Osceola, Arkansas
Vicksburg, Mississippi
New Roads, Louisiana
Palisade, Minnesota
Maiden Rock, Wisconsin
McGregor, Iowa
Cordova, Illinois
Portage Des Sioux, Missouri
West Memphis, AR
Natchez, Mississippi
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Hassman, Minnesota
Stockholm, Wisconsin
Guttenberg, Iowa
Moline, Illinois
St. Louis, Missouri
Helena-West Helena, AR
Donaldsonville, Louisiana
Aitkin, Minnesota
Pepin, Wisconsin
Dubuque, Iowa
Rock Island, Illinois
Ste. Genevieve, Missouri
Arkansas City, Arkansas
Lutcher, Louisiana
Riverton, Minnesota
Nelson, Wisconsin
Bellevue, Iowa
New Boston, Illinois
Cape Girardeau, Missouri
New Orleans, Louisiana
Brainerd, Minnesota
Alma, Wisconsin
Sabula, Iowa
Keithsburg, Illinois
Commerce, Missouri
Pilottown, Louisiana
Fort Ripley, Minnesota
Buffalo City, Wisconsin
Clinton, Iowa
Oquawka, Illinois
New Madrid, Missouri
Little Falls, Minnesota
Fountain City, Wisconsin
Le Claire, Iowa
Dallas City, Illinois
Caruthersville, Missouri
Sartell, Minnesota
Trempealeau, Wisconsin
Bettendorf, Iowa
Nauvoo, Illinois
St. Cloud, Minnesota
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Davenport, Iowa
Warsaw, Illinois
Coon Rapids, Minnesota
Stoddard, Wisconsin
Buffalo, Iowa
Quincy, Illinois
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Genoa, Wisconsin
Muscatine, Iowa
Alton, Illinois
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Victory, Wisconsin
Burlington, Iowa
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Nininger, Minnesota
Potosi, Wisconsin
Fort Madison, Iowa
Chester, Illinois
Hastings, Minnesota
De Soto, Wisconsin
Keokuk, Iowa
Grand Tower, Illinois
Prairie Island, Minnesota
Ferryville, Wisconsin
Thebes, Illinois
Red Wing, Minnesota
Lynxville, Wisconsin
Cairo, Illinois
Lake City, Minnesota
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Maple Springs, Minnesota
Wyalusing, Wisconsin
Camp Lacupolis, Minnesota
Cassville, Wisconsin
Reads Landing, Minnesota Wabasha, Minnesota Weaver, Minnesota Minneiska, Minnesota Winona, Minnesota Homer, Minnesota
Threats to the System Runoff (kilograms per square kilometer per year) Suspended Total sediment phosphorus Nitrate
Wheat Urban Forest Rangeland Mixed crops Corn and soybeans
3503 8056 10,858 11,559 27,671
3.5 41.7 22.1 6.0 23.1
Arkansas River
Coarse sediment trapped behind dam structure
11.2 192 89.3 10.9 107
Iowa
158
Arkansas River
Red River
Red River
Illinois
Creating America’s Super Highway 57.1
Elevation in meters
35,026
1983
156
152
Source:Smith et al. (1996).
6000 8000 10,000 Distance in meters
5 27
78
12,000
12
3
Illinois
65 75 9 1 19
Missouri Kentucky
,7 92
n, IA -
500
02 90 -4
Lake bed at different years
Agriculture 135
River Mile 175.0
cultivated crops hay/pasture
Wisconsin
Minnesota
9,
39
3
24
54
n
-3
to St
.L
400
ou is ,M O
Al
26
Iowa
1985 133
132
1975
Illinois
1965
Missouri Kentucky
Arkansas
350 130
129
650
600
550
500
450
System Wide Threats 1. Geologic Factors
a. Sea Level Rise- Regional Levels are higher than Eustatic Levels (18-24 cm/yr above global level) b. Susidence and Compaction: -Primary Consolidation- consolidation occurring in only one-dimension due to vertical
stresses and settlement of voids
Mississippi
400
350
300
250
200
150
The Tale of Two Rivers Reality
Runoff (kilograms per square kilometer per year) Suspended Total sediment phosphorus Nitrate
Land use
Wheat 3503 3.5 11.2 0 Urban 8056 41.7 192 1930 Forest 10,858 22.1 89.3 Rangeland 11,559 6.0 10.9 Mixed crops 27,671 23.1 107 Corn and Annual suspended-sediment discharge at Tarbert soybeans 35,026 57.1 326 Landing and
Perception
1
-Secondary Compression-
2
700
3
4 5
650
5a
6
7
8 9
2. Catastrophic Factors
1. Landslides 2. Floods 3. Hurricanes- highest surge and intense waves at the right of hurricane path--causing erosion and saltwater inundation
10
11
600
550
3. Biological Factors
500
- Marsh maintenance and growth >= decomposition - Wetland Types: 1. Saline 2. Brackish- experiencing highest rate of erosion 3. Freshwater 4. Swamp Forest
450
400
4. Human Factors
1. Flood & Navigation Control- reduced sediment a. Dams - 434x106 tons(1850) reduced to 255x106 = 41% Reduction - Reduction in amount and in texture (coarser grain foundation sediment no longer passes dams) b. Levees - All sediment directed out of the mouth of distributaries - Overbank flooding- deprives marshes of nourishment, maintenance and subsidence compaction. c. Cutoffs d. Revetments e. Dredging 2. Pollution a. Agricultural runoff: pesticides, nutrient runoff b. Sewage effluents 3. Highway and Canal Construction a. Highways- North-South highways built on natural levees (minimal impact), East-West block natural drainage courses. b. Canals - Hunting and trapping (historical use) - General Navigation - Petroleum Exploration Access Direct Impact: Wetlands are converted to waterways, spoilbanks, widening from canal bank erosion. Indirect Impact: Canals create an artificial drainage network which alters marsh hydrology--changes surface and ground water flows--restricting nutrient and sediment to some areas while over exposing other areas.
100
750
-Oxidation of Organic Matter c. Change in Deposition Centers
300
799
compression of soil that takes place after primary consolidation. Secondary consolidation is caused by creep, viscous behavior of the clay-water system, compression of organic matter, and other processes.
400
Lower Mississippi River, 1920-2007. Solid circles correspond and the trend lines been fit by least-squares regression. Source:Smith et al.have (1996). Memphis District of the lower Mississippi River and the upper Vicksburg District of the Lower Mississippi.
Louisiana
1903 Lake bed at different years
700
-
Tennessee
131
300
500
Suspended sediment, total phosphorus, and nitrate yields in runoff by dominant land use in the United States for 1980–1989. 200
134
,3
IL
61
-2
25
450
750
0 1950
600
129
Cl
22
800
200
,4 n, M O to
21
Sa ve r
20
850
400
130
-4
ku k, Ke o 19
900
600
7 18
550
950
Water
1903
lle ,M O
17
ar ks vi
16
69
15
131
0,
14
Mississippi
Louisiana
-1
600
13
Arkansas
132
IA
in to 12
Tennessee
133
D 48 Ro ave ,9 ck np 42 Is ort la , nd IA , I -2 4 L 6, 88 6
IA -
11
Cl
10
1985
24
91 1, rg ,I A-
9
Sediment
Iowa
River Mile 175.0
134
D eb uq ue ,
en be
8
350
300 950
900
850
800
750
700
650
600
Mississippi Flyway
America’s Landmark America has a romantic vision of the Mississippi River that has been historically portrayed by authors such as Mark Twain. It is one of America’s most prized landmarks.
America’s Economic Conduit In reality the river has been augmented to promote economic progress. The governing bodies of the Mississippi River value the economy of the river over the river’s ecological health and have altered it to run as efficiently as possible.
3. Fluid Withdrawal: depressurization of
a. Aquifers- mainly in Metropolitan areas (ie. New Orleans)-- ground water withdrawal next to the largest fresh water source in North America b. Hydrocarbon- Subsidence from oil and gas fields.
Threatened, Endangered, & Sensitive Species
Due to Man-Made Alterations to the River The Mississippi River Valley is critical habitat for 286 state-listed or candidate species and 36 federal-listed or candidate species of rare, threatened or endangered plants and animals endemic to the Mississippi River Basin. Vertebrates
Invertebrates
Major causes of decline to mussel species is attributed to destruction of habitat (deforestation, riparian zone destruction) by siltation, dredging, channelization, impoundments, and pollution.
Major causes of decline to most of the vertebrates within the Mississippi River Valley have been directly related to man-made alterations to the river (i.e., dams, levees, channelization, etc.) This has caused loss and/or unsuitable habitat, as well as, loss of diversification and pollution.
Marine Mammal West Indian Manatee Trichechus manatus: Endangered
The primary cause of death is watercraft collision (30%); other deaths may be attributed to water control structures and navigational locks. Threats also include coastal development, alteration of water flow to natural springs, loss of seagrass beds, and natural causes such as red tide and cold events.
Birds
Interior least tern Sterna antillarum athalassos: Endangered
Man-made alterations (i.e., dams, channelization) affecting the natural processes of erosion and inundation of interior river systems have caused increased vegetation along shorelines thus, creating unsuitable habitat for the species
Colonial Waterbirds Various Species: Specie of Concern
Terrestrial Mammal Louisiana Black Bear Ursus americanus luteolus: Threatened
Gray Bat Myotis grisescens Endangered
Many important caves were flooded and submerged by reservoirs. Other caves are in danger of natural flooding. Even if the bats escape the flood, they have difficulty finding a new cave that is suitable
Brown pelican Pelecanus occidentalis: Endangered
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Threatened
Present threats include loss of nesting habitat mainly to development in coastal areas and waterways, electrocution, and shooting
Piping plover Charadrius melodus Threatened
10
Wisconsin
,6
6, M N -2 7
ut t
650
G
6
Cr os se ,
5a
4000
2000
135
La
5
W in on a,
4
0
Cross-sectional profile of the Upper Misssissippi River
2
3
144
America’s Bread-Basket 1891 Damming the Mississippi River allows the transport of 472-million tons of cargo (petroleum, coal, chemicals, and grain ) worth $54 14,000 16,000 billion each year Minnesota
1
700
146
W I1
750
20
Gulf of Mexico
Cubic kilometers per year
M m inn St illi ea . P on po lis au ,M l, Re M N d N -p W in op g, ul M at N io -1 n 2. 5, 85 68 7
799
30
DECLINE OF SEDIMENT DISCHARGE IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER
148
142
40
1928
150
Lock and Dam System Elevation of Upper Mississippi River
600
50
Suspended-sediment discharge, in millions of metric tons per year
1946
154
326
0
Gulf of Mexico
Annual suspended-sediment discharge, million of metric tons
Land use
Missouri River
Ohio River
Millions of metric tons per ye
United States for 1980–1989.
Marine Turtles Loggerhead Caretta caretta: Endangered
Freshwater Turtles Western Painted Turtle Chrysemys picta bellii Rare
The primary causes of decline in this species are shrimp trawling, coastal development, increased human use of nesting beaches, and pollution
Kemp’s Ridley Lepidochelys kempii: Endangered
Spiny Softshell Turtle Apalone spinifera Species of Concern
Hawksbill Eretmochelys imbricata: Endangered
Smooth Softshell Apalone mutica: Rare
Green turtle Chelonia mydas: Threatened
Ringed-sawback Turtle Graptemys oculifera: Threatened
The major cause of the decline is the commercial harvest of food, eggs, and calipee. Other threats include commercial shrimp trawling and degradation of habitat.
Common Map Turtle Graptemys geographica: Endangered
Populations may be substantial in waterways with abundant mollusks. Mature males outnumber mature females (Pluto and Bellis 1986).
Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina: Sensitive Species
Chemical pollution is linked to population decline (Ryan et al. 1986).
Primary threat has been the increase of trawling in the Gulf which impacted a large portion of the reproducing population.
Commercial exploitation which is primarily shells but also includes leather, oil, perfume, and cosmetics.
Fish
Density indicates a sex ratio of males to females of 2.5:1. Some studies have indicated that 37 percent of the population is composed of immature individuals.
Papermill effluents, sewage, industrial waste, habitat modification and water quality degradation are the most often cited reasons for declining numbers of ringed map (McCoy and Vogt 1980; Stewart 1988).
Ouachita Map Turtle Graptemys ouachitensis: Species of Concern
False Map Turtle Graptemys pseudogeographica Threatened
Declining populations are attributed to several factors, including water pollution, river channelization, reduction of suitable nesting sites, siltation, and unlawful shooting
Blanding’s Turtle Emydoidea blandingi: Species of Concern
Mississippi Basin Migratory Patterns Source: US Wildlife and Fisheries
Freshwater Mussels Yellow sandshell Lampsillisteres: Endangered
Strange Floater Strophitus undulatus: Threatened
Monkeyface Quadrula metanevra: Endangered
Washboard Megalonaias nervosa: Endangered
Strange Floater Strophitus undulatus: Threatened
Higgins eye pearlymussel Lampsilis higginsii: Endangered
Gulf sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchusdesotoi Threatened
Wartyback Quadrula nodulata: Endangered
Spike Elliptio dilatata: Endangered
Hickorynut Obovaria olivaria: Extirpated / Endangered
Paddlefish Polyodon spathula: Species of Concern
Strange Floater Strophitus undulatus: Threatened
Round pigtoe Pleurobema plenum: Extirpated/ Endangered
Butterfly Ellipsaria lineolata: Endangered
Rough pigtoe Pleurobema plenum: Extirpated/ Endangered
Black sandshell Ligumia recta:
Walleye Stizostedion vitreum: Species of Concern
Smallmouth bass Micropterus dolomieu: Species of Concern
Wetland alteration or destruction is believed to be an important factor in the decline of several populations of Blanding’s turtles (Kofron and Schreiber 1985).
Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus: Species of Concern
Rock-pocketbook Arcidens confragosus Endangered
Some studies have shown a large female-biased sex ratio (3:1), which may be due to either the effects of temperature-dependent gender determination (Shively and Jackson
1985).
Pallid sturgeon Scaphirhynchus albus: Endangered
Decline is due to degradation of habitat, mainly due to impoundments and channelization. Dams and channelization have altered the functions and have produced a less diverse ecosystem of which the pallid sturgeon is dependant on. Regular widths, constant velocities, and control of erosion produced by channelization have limited the assemblage of backwaters, sloughs, and sandbars required by the species. Dams have altered the natural river dynamics by modifying flows and reducing diversity to the system. Levee construction has eliminated natural flooding and reduced floodplains. Increased clarity from decreased sediment transport of once very turbid waters makes the pallid sturgeon more susceptible to predation. The removal of snags has reduced the amount of organic material limiting habitat for aquatic insects, a major food source for pallid sturgeon (USFWS 1993).
55
Environmental degradation from river construction and alterations leads to new policies to protect the Mississippi River.
ENVIRONMENT RESPONSE
War time commerce and flood events leads to reactionary policies to institute river engineering and construction
CONSTRUCTION ERA
Destruction from floods leads to reactionary policies increasing more engineering
FLOODS & POLICIES
Destruction from floods leads to the beginning of Mississippi River Commission
RIVER COMMERCE & GOVERNANCE The Mississippi River’s potential of commerce and trade, as well as flooding and devastation is discovered
RIVER POTENTIAL The Mississippi River’s potential of commerce and trade, as well as flooding and devastation is discovered
RIVER DISCOVERY Prehistoric inhabitants of North America who constructed earthen mounds for burial, residential and ceremonial purposes. Predates pyramids 1000 years.
MOUND-BUILDERS
Political & Geo-Ecologies
Time line: political augmentation of the river
Every political Act implemented along the river has been a reaction due to a crises or economic stimulousNo comprehensive plan or master vision
CHRONOLOGY OF RIVER AND POLICY CULTURAL AND GEO-ECOLOGIES
30 years
80 years
d e in the
Threats at Every Scale
rate
+
1 Local: Engineering
11.2Navigational Dams 192 89.3 10.9 07
Sediment Backfilling at Lock and Dams
Sediment Separation
Cross-sectional profile of the Upper Mississippi River
Sediment Classification Magnified x 60
size x 20
Coarse 2mm
326
Illinois 1983
156
Fine 1/16mm (silt)
(Sand)
Iowa
158
Elevation in meters
ar)
1946
154
Source: USACE Willow revetment mattress construction used for bank protection from 1800-1900s. The willow revetment was found not to be an effective technique to control bank erosion along the Mississippi River.
11 meter rise (lost capacity)
152
1928
150 148
** Coarse sediment is the primary foundation for the coastal marshlands. Since the construction of the dams, the sediment is blocked and settles, creating lost capacity behind the dams and deficiencies below the dam.
1891
146
Source: USACE Construction of Lock and Dam no. 22 on the Mississippi River
144 142
0
2000
4000
6000 8000 10,000 Distance in meters
2 Regional: Compounding
14,000
16,000
+
Cross-sectional profile of the Upper Mis 135
1989
1891
Decline of Sediment Discharge
12,000
River Mile 175.0
145 million tons
400 million tons
134
Mississippi River
Ohio River
11 12
Arkansas River
13
Coarse sediment trapped behind 14 dam structure
15
Arkansas River
Red River
16
linois
Red River
17
18 Gulf of Mexico
0
600
Gulf of Mexico
500
131
400 300 200
130
100 1950
Suspended-sediment discharge, in millions of metric tons per year
Sediment deposition behind dams on Upper 19 Mississippi River is blocking blocking 20 navigational channels as well as causing lost 21 RIVER DECLINE OF SEDIMENT DISCHARGE IN THE MISSISSIPPI capacity for reserviors, which many cities, 22 farms and industries rely on for their water supply
6,000
Missouri River
1960
3 Continental: System Collapse Cubic kilometers per year
5 5 6 19 197
Missouri Kentucky
Tennessee Arkansas
Mississippi
Louisiana
Water
400 200
450
400
0 The state is losing 25 to 35 square miles of wetlands each year, nearly 1950 1960 1970 a football field every 30 minutes Louisiana is spending $28.3 million to attempt to restore the 600 coastal wetlands.
sediment backfilling decreased250 water capacity 300 200 150 top soil & nutrient loss 500 pollution from agriculture and propagating channel degradation in the upstream direction. Channel deepening and widening have caused problems at stream crossings and have resulted in gully development encroachment into cultivated fields. A diffusion model and a hyperbolic model, each
350
Lake bed at different years
UPPER
0
LOWER
1975
Illinois
1965
Missouri Kentucky
1990
129
Louisiana Wetland Loss Source: USGS
revetments
2000
dikes Decline = - 1.1 million metric tons per year
1903
400
300
R2 = 0.42
200
R2 = 0.14
100
New Orleans after hurricane Katrina Source: Colligan Wordpress
0 1930
Arkansas
1980
100
brought about by man. Intensive agriculture, land clearing, urban construction, drainage of wetlands, levee construction and alteration of stream segments in both the Illinois River Basin and lower Mississippi Valley have significantly increased the rate of erosion and the amount of sediment entering stream tributaries, the Illinois River and its backwater lakes and sloughs (Figure 8).
Tennessee
130
Decline = - 15 million metric tons per year
habitat loss sinking marshes 300 Upland Erosion hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico Agricultural landscapes have been more sensitive to climatic variability than natural landscapes because tillage and grazing typically reduce water infiltration and increase coastal rates and exposure magnitudes of surface runoff. Studies have been completed to determine how agricultural land use has influenced the relative responsiveness of floods, erosion, and200 sedimentation toloss extreme and nonextreme hydrologic activity occurring in watersheds of economic the upper Mississippi Valley. The Illinois River Basin has been of particular interest due to its land use characteristics and size. Soil erosion and deposition of sediment into vulnerable surface waters is acities natural process that has been accelerated by land altering changes
Iowa
1985
400
describing channel degradation, were solved using a Laplace transform approach. A close-form solution was obtained for the diffusion model, but numerical methods were necessary for evaluation of the inverse transform of the hyperbolic model. A closed-form asymptotic solution was found for the hyperbolic case. Both solutions were found to be in very good agreement with actual results (Hjelmfelt and Lenau 1992).
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Louisiana has 40% of America’s wetlands, yet is experiencing 90% of the loss.
Annual suspended-sediment discharge, million of metric tons
500
131
600
1903
550
1965
132
Illinois
600
1975
Iowa
0
50
=
133
26
1985
2000
1985
Wisconsin
the Upper Misssissippi River
1990
134
25
Minnesota
1980
129 Sediment concentrations in the Mississippi River have decreased at least 70-80% from pre-development conditions135 River Mile 175.0
Sediment
24
1970
Cumulative Revetment or Dike Construction, kilometers
10
132
Ohio River Millions of metric tons per year
Missouri River
133
Mississippi River
1950
Dredging to clear navigation passages Source: USACE
1970 Year
1990
Turbidity after dredging Source: USACE
0 2010
Mississippi
Louisiana
1903 Lake bed at different years
Annual suspended-sediment discharge at Tarbert Landing and construction of engineered dikes and bank revetment along the Lower Mississippi River, 1920-2007. Solid circles correspond to the annual suspended-sediment discharge at Tarbert Landing and the trend lines have been fit by least-squares regression. The lower dased line corresponds to dike construction in the Memphis District of the lower Mississippi River and the upper dashed line correspondes to the bank revetment construction in the Vicksburg District of the Lower Mississippi. Industrial waste on Upper Mississippi River Source: US Fish and Wildlife Service
Figure 8: Sheet erosion theUpper Upper Mississippi River River basin Basin Sheet Erosion in in the Mississippi Source: U.S. Departmentof of Agriculture Source: US Department Agriculture
9
Louisiana Wetland Loss Source: USGS
Louisiana Coast, Gulf of Mexico ‘Dead Zone’ Source: Louisiana University Marine Cosortium
Gulf of Mexico hypoxic ‘Dead Zone’ Source: NOAA
Dirt Economies
Sediment Transfer Strategy & Network Commodity is sediment shift the value system- harness, exploit, the river’s natural processes to promote the health of the river and create a new economy coupling natural infrastructure with the man-made infrastructure that has been a detriment to the river for over 100 years in order to create new clean industries depending on surrounding land uses.
PROBLEM
OPPORTUNITY
SOLUTION Adjacent Land Use
Dams create to opportunity to harvest sediment
Agriculture runoff on the Upper Mississippi River creates sediment
Urban Sludge
Urban
1
Diminished Capacity
2
Polluted/ Toxic
1 2 3 Systemic Sediment Harvesting
Green Economies
Waste
Sediment
Agriculture
Ecological Restoration
Agri. Pollution Sediment
Sediment
Forest
Sediment
Wetland
Separation
Commodity
A
Organic Fertilizer Fill
B
Compost/ Topsoil
C
Clear Cut Reclamation
D
Foundation Sand
Process Moving Dirt- Each step of the sediment transfer process creates new jobs which will facilitate economic gain. Creating a sediment network along the river helps to re-imagine industries that have a positive effect on the river while still growing the economy.
1Dam 1
In areas where the river bed has trapped and accumulated sediment, a hopper boat sucks dredged material and pumps it through an intake pipe (drag arm) to hoppers where it is stored. The slurry water is drained and discharged during the dredge operation.
2Dredging 2 Once the hoppers are full, the vessel moves to a sediment discharge station, where the sediment is pumped out of the hoppers.
3Train 3 After the sediment is unloaded, it is moved by a conveyer belt to an on-site silo.
4 4 Sediment is stored in the silo until the train arrives, where it is dispensed from above.
5 the train transports the sediment to the different areas of the park to be distributed accordingly.
Sediment Plant 5 The sediment is transported by train from the dredging station using existing rail lines. From there, it is delivered to the unloading station at the sediment park.
AUrban
BAgriculture Sediment that has a high level of toxicity is ran through a detoxification process.
6 Once the sediment arrives at the park, it is unloaded, tested, and separated according to its toxicity level.
CForest
After detoxification, the clean soil is moved and separated according to its future use. 10 Sediment from the A Mississippi River is full of nutrients and is considered by some the most fertile soil in the world. Some of the sediment extracted is packaged and sold to farmers as a source of fertilizer and top soil restoration.
Some sediment will be loaded into a dump truck and transferred to allocated areas throughout the park.
A
B
DWetland
C
10 Sediment is used to build new habitat around the park until it is eventually eroded and washed back into the river to be carried to the delta marshlands. Thus helping to restoring the natural sediment load and deposition rate of the river.
D
Site Selection Criteria
Incorporating Sediment Network Locally o Illin is R
Site Selection Criteria
iver
1.
Convergence of the 3 rivers- Mississippi, Illinois, Missouri
M is siss
2. Oldest River Testing Gage- USACE- St. Louis division Mi
ver i Ri
ipp
ssi
ssi
3. One of the largest cities on the Upper Mississippi River
pp
iR
ive r
4. Last navigational dam 5. Area of Most significant change in past 100 years- from sedimentation and urbanization
Lock and Dam No.26
Mi
ss
ou
6. 1993 Flood- considered the worst flood on Mississippi
ri
Riv er
7. Environmental Legacy of the Engineering- dams, levees, embankments, cutoffs 8. Existing infrastructure- rail, highway, canals, etc. 9. East St. Louis is a dried-up industrial city in need of new industry for economic development
East St. Louis, IL
St. Louis, MO
scale 1:1,000 scale 1:10,000 scale 1:1mile
Miss i s s ip r
p i R ive
Symbolic gesture to reconnect / deconstruct the river Flood Control system Restore natural processes Create park to absorb obnoxious recreational uses Utilize “suburban� existential/ wasted spaces Job creation
SITE Analysis
Utilize stimulus money- for green industry
Sedimentation Program and Process -Park development to incorporate/ mitigate existing uses. Project Boundary Road Railroad Proposed River Connection 4
Channel
2
1
Dam 5
Catalogue of Existing Uses
6
1. U.S. Steel -mill and coking factory 3
2. U.S. Steel -cooling pond
7
3. Agriculture inside River cutoff 8
4. Lake Horseshoe- Oxbo Lake 5. Sediment Island
St. Louis, MO
East St. Louis, IL 12
15
11 13 16 14
10
6. Agriculture 7. Runoff diversion channel 8. Existing Wetlands
9
9. Existing Wetlands 10. Abandoned Gravel Pit 11. Race Track 12. Golf Course
17
13. Empty Land 14. Abandoned Foundation Pad 15. Blighted Neighborhood 16. Water Treatment Plant 17. Existing Riparian edge
East St. Louis
Urban Revitalization through Sediment Network The sediment network can be implemented locally at a continental scale
2
3
Organic Fertilizer
Topsoil Replacement
Urban Forestry
4
1
2
Organic Fertilizer: The nutrients from agricultural sediment can be sequestered to create a rich, organic fertilizer. This fertilizer is a non-toxic alternative for the environment, while safe for the adjacent communities Top Soil Replacement: Due to improper farming and land cultivation, much of America’s fertile topsoil has eroded away into the Mississippi River over the past 100 years. However, harvesting the nutrient-rich soil from the river can replenish agricultural top soil.
Wetland Reconstruction
Brownfield Reclamation
4
Brown Field Reclamation: The existing U.S. Steel site is cleaned with sediment and sludge mixture to remediate the soil, allowing for future housing and retail development Strip Mine Reclamation: The strip mine and gravel pit are filled with the urban sediment mixture. The nutrientrich mixture expedites the reclamation process
Forest Reclamation
2 3
1
3
Wetland Reconstruction
Strip Mine Reclamation
1
Urban Forestry: Planting forests within the urban realm creates a buffer between communities and less desirable land uses, mitigates storm water runoff, acts as a wildlife corridor, while creating an interconnected openspace network for the city. Planting these forest with a forest sediment mixture will promote growth in a hinderingly environment. Forest Reclamation: Clear-cut forest are very susceptible to erosion and nutrient loss, making it difficult to regenerate. Replenishing the topsoil and adding nutrient-rich sediment can expediate grown cycle, so that certain areas will be more productive, and virgin forest less susceptible to clear cutting.
4
1 Urban
2 Agriculture
3 Forest
Wetland Reconstruction: Wetlands are a vital habitat along the Mississippi River, offering a respite for migratory birds and a home for many of North America’s most vulnerable wildlife. Wetlands also act as a riparian buffer, filtering water before it enters the river. The coarse sediment is a foundation for wetland plants and can be used to rebuild the 60% of wetlands that have laredy been lost in North America
4 Wetland
Dirt Economies- What is Dirt Worth? Proposed industries to spur economic development Landscape Urban
Agriculture
Forest
Commodity
Client
Brownfield Reclamation Medium
Cities Developers
$
Land Fill
Cities Developers
$
Organic Fertilizer
Farmers Gardeners
$
Topsoil/ Compost
Farmers Gardeners
$
City Park Dept.
$
Lumber Companies U.S. FWS U.S.A.C.E. Nature Conservancy Gulf Coast States
$
Urban Forestry Base Forest Reclamation Medium
Wetlands
unit price
Wetland Reconstruction Foundation Material
$
Local Economy
National Economy
$
$
$
$
$
$6.1 Billion
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
What is Dirt Worth?
Waste Commodity based on Adjacent Land Use
1 Urban spatial component economic component environmental component
2 Agriculture spatial component economic component environmental component
3 Forest spatial component economic component environmental component
4 Wetland spatial component economic component environmental component