Is the Mississippi river rising or falling?

Levels are rising now but to a point where it may introduce other complicating factors. Water levels along the Mississippi River near Memphis are more than 21 feet, which is nearly a foot higher than where they were in April 2023, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.



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Rising River Levels Along The Mississippi River The Mississippi River will continue to rise through the next 1 to 2 weeks as runoff from snowmelt upstream in combination with rainfall runoff moves through the river system. Confidence has increased that much of the river will see minor to moderate flooding.

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Flooding this spring produced crests down the mainstem Mississippi River somewhere between 2019 and 2001 flood levels - most of these crests fell within the top 5 on record. The bulk of the snowpack in the Mississippi River basin has melted and this water is working down the river.

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Quick Recap: When Was the Mississippi River at the Lowest Point Ever? The Mississippi River was at its lowest point ever in October 2022. In Memphis, Tennessee, the Mississippi River dropped to – 10.81 feet. Levels were so low that commercial barges struggled to stay afloat.

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A shrinking river is hurting people and the economy in a variety of ways. Barges can't operate on the river to get goods to market. Drinking water may also be at risk – for example, salt water moving upriver from the Gulf of Mexico could impact drinking water supplies in parts of Louisiana.

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The 2,340-mile-long Mississippi River is so low from hot, dry weather just a few months after severe floods helped replenish it from critically low water levels last year.

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The Mississippi River is flowing at its lowest level in at least a decade, and until rain relieves a worsening drought in the region, it's becoming increasingly difficult to maintain water levels high enough to carry critical exports from the nation's bread basket.

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The Mississippi River is recovering from drought conditions and current and projected weather forecasts state more favorable conditions into the future.

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As crazy as it sounds, engineers say the idea is technically feasible. It would involve building a system of dams and pipelines to move the water uphill across multiple states over the Continental Divide. Gravity would then work in our favor to drop the water down to the Colorado River watershed.

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Downstream of St. Louis, the Mississippi River is free flowing all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River also provides an important source of water for drinking, cooling, recreation, and fish and wildlife.

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Before 2022, the last time the river experienced such a severe drought was a decade prior. Despite the improved conditions, more precipitation is needed before the river reaches above average levels. The elevation is average and below average depending on which gauge along the river system, Parker said.

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What Causes the Dead Zone? Heavy rains and melting snows washed massive amounts of nutrients—particularly nitrogen and phosphorus—from lawns, sewage treatment plants, farm land and other sources along the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.

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Seven states and 30 Native American tribes lie in the Colorado River Basin. As we first reported in 2021, the river has been running dry due to the historically severe drought. The majestic, meandering Colorado River that cut through these red cliffs, carving the Grand Canyon, is a wonder of nature and human ingenuity.

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