The lower Mississippi River and Delta From: http://www.lacoast.gov/maps/lastate453n.jpg

Mississippi River/Delta Field TripSept. 28-Oct. 3, 2004: R. Douglas Elmore

A couple of quotes from a wise man.

“The Mississippi River will always have its own way; no engineering skill can persuade it to do otherwise...”- Mark Twain in Eruption

“One who knows the Mississippi River, will of her not allow himself, that 10,000 river commissions with the minds of the world at their back cannot curve it or confine it, cannot say to it go there and make it obey, cannot save a shore which has been sentenced, cannot bar its path with an obstruction which is will not tear down, dance over, or laugh at.” Mark Twain

First Day-The long road to Louisiana

The second day-Old River Control

Second Day-Old River Control. The talk on Old River Control by Bill, the hydroelectric plant employee. The side scan sonar map shows the locations of the Low Sill structure, the Auxiliary Structure andHydroelectric plant.

Close up of the side scan sonar map. Note the bedforms in the Mississippi.Also note the deep hole (black oval) to the south of the Low Sill Structure Which was important in the 1973 flood.

http://users.stlcc.edu/jangert/oldriver/symbol.html

Aerial photo of the Low Structure during the 1973 flood. Note that one wingwall has failed. Also note the high flood waters.

On the Low Sill structure.

Talking to the guy from the Core of Engineers on theLow Sill structure.

Looking down at one of the gates on the Low Sill structure. Which side is the Mississippi and which is the Atchaflaya? There is a 15 foot difference. Noteno water is flowing.

Delta Force on the Auxiliary Structure

Geotubes on FourchonBeach late in the day

Day 3-After a long night full of mosquitoes and some noisy grads/undergrads outside at the LUMCON facility, the first lecture by Mark “the Cook” Kulp on Thursday morning.

Matt and Jennifer admiring sand on Fourchon Beach.Note breakers offshore. Do they work?

Digging a trench on Fourchon Beach

Trace fossil on the beach

Paul being very attentive and buildinga sand castle in the trench

The LUMCON facility at Cocodrie with our favorite nightwatchman

From: http://www.lumcon.edu/

Sorry no pictures from the crab boil-too busy eating

Crab boil Thursday night. Some students had neverbeen to a crab boil and it was a real learning experience.

http://www.photovault.com/Link/Animals/Aquatic/rCrustacia/show.asp?tg=AARVolume01/AARV01P04_12

On the way to Trinity Island

Oil tanks on the way to Trinity Island

Sara acting like Jean Lafitte

The two other boats and Brain needs a hat.

Marsh deposits on the beach on Trinity Island.

Mud balls armored by shells on the Trinity beach. What is the preservation potential?

Michelle providing the scale for the overwash fan on TrinityIsland. Looking toward the beach.

Coming ashore on the overwash fan on Trinity Island.

Pellets filling troughs in ripples on the back part of the island.

What a bunch of fools!

On the hurricane levee between Lake Pontchartrain and New Orleans.

View of Lake Pontchartrain from the levee.

Here is the problem with New Orleans. It is a hole. Theriver is to left and the lake is on the right.

Mark and Mike talking about the history of New Orleans.

Class picture with Mark, Mike, and Matt from UNO.

The swamp

Swamp inhabitant

Our Cajun guide, his baby,and Chris believing everyword

The mighty Mississippi

The levee in New Orleans. Shannon and Sara being amazedby the difference in elevation between the river and NewOrleans

From the levee to street level in New Orleans (Lower thanthe Mississippi) and the walk back to the bus forthe long trip home.