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River diversions complicate flooding

An Illinois researcher says the complex system of diversions meant to protect farmland along the Mississippi in southeast Missouri and southwestern Illinois has actually contributed to some flooding. Ken Olson is an Emeritus professor of natural resources and environmental sciences at the University of Illinois who says it’s a complicated situation.

He says the flooding in southern Illinois in early January should have come as no surprise because even with the diversions, that extra water needed someplace to go. He tells Brownfield Ag News, “Conceptually, the best thing would be if there was a place on bottom land that you could store extra water temporarily. It could be on the Ohio River or Mississippi or in the confluence area, somewhere along the way.”

But he says that’s not a realistic solution because it would displace a lot of people and land. Hardest hit was extreme southwestern Illinois, “I don’t think the farmers in Alexander County Illinois were aware of the impact of the diversion in 1915. And, when they kept getting flooded more and more they finally created their own levee.” And, he says, that levee has failed three times.

AUDIO:  Interview with Kenneth Olson on January 8, 2016