Figure - Evidence From Both Sides

Evidence From Both Sides

Posted on SEPTEMBER 10, 2011

Students from one local high school got an up close view of the mighty Mississippi River on Friday - and methods used to control it - during a field trip led by personnel with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers St. Louis District.

The students, seniors in Jamie Nash-Mayberry's government class at Shawnee High School in Wolf Lake, traveled to St. Louis and East Alton for a different look at the river that is just a levee away from many of their own homes in the Mississippi's bottomlands in Jackson, Union and Alexander counties.

The trip is part of phase two of Nash-Mayberry's attempts to educate her students about the effect man-made structures can have on the river and those who live near its banks.

Last year, Nash-Mayberry's students raised awareness about the deteriorating state of levees in the river's bottomlands and advocated for intervention.

Their efforts, which included writing letters to the region's lawmakers and the president and making a video to illustrate the levee system's needs, led to a summit with Corps personnel and U.S. Reps. Jerry Costello and John Shimkus, among others.

"Last year, we focused on raising awareness and funding (for levee repairs). We did what we could do with that so this year, we're focusing more on ways to reduce flooding and how the river operates," Nash-Mayberry said.

Students were presented with research findings recently that man-made river training structures such as wing dikes used to maintain adequate depths for navigation may actually increase flooding. The field trip allowed the Corps to explain its view on the issue.

"We wanted to learn more about the purpose of wing dikes and whether or not they contribute to increased flood levels," she said. "We've already been presented information that they do increase those levels. Today (Friday), the Corps presented research saying they do not. I think it's important that we look at both sides before making up our minds."

Students started their trip with a presentation by hydraulic engineer Eddie Brauer at the Corps' Applied River Engineering Center. He presented research findings that concluded the structures did not raise flooding levels.

"My objective was to give them a good understanding of what we're doing on the river," Brauer said. "They were engaged and asked excellent questions. It was clear they have done a lot of research prior to this field trip."

The next stop was at Lange-Stegmann Co., an agriculture fertilizer company located on the St. Louis riverfront. The company unloads three to four barges a day at its dock, a task made easier after the Corps' placement of chevrons in the river. The U-shaped structures improved navigation by lessening sediment deposit and keeping enough depth at the dock for barge traffic. Students also toured the National Great Rivers Museum and Melvin Price Locks and Dam in East Alton to conclude their trip.

Andrew Livesay, a Shawnee senior who lives "where the Big Muddy meets the Mississippi," said the trip was worthwhile.

"It was good to hear what the Corps had to say and see the techniques they use," he said. "All of us care about this issue. A lot of us plan to stay here after we graduate from high school, so we want to see the levees fixed."

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