Flood control engineering has probably worsened flooding in Mississippi and Louisiana, according to new research. The study found that the number of people who have been displaced by floods since 1980 increased from about 1 million to more than 2 million. Others praised the “paleoflood” work but had doubts about the conclusion that flood engineering is the main reason floods are worse. Although climate change may be responsible for 25% of the increase, engineering, including the construction of levees and straight navigation channels, has probably caused the remaining 75%.
Flood control engineering has probably worsened flooding in Mississippi and Louisiana, according to new research. The study found that the number of people who have been displaced by floods since 1980 increased from about 1 million to more than 2 million. Although climate change may be responsible for 25% of the increase, engineering, including the construction of levees and straight navigation channels, has probably caused the remaining 75%.