Date of Graduation
5-2023
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Degree Level
Undergraduate
Department
Supply Chain Management
Advisor/Mentor
Shaheen, Iana
Abstract
The Mississippi River is one of the most important commercial waterways in the world. It connects the United States’ agricultural and manufacturing centers with the rest of the country and the global supply chain while also being the economic engine for developments up and down the river. Over the past four years, the Mississippi River has experienced its worst drought and flood on record. Climate change is increasing the commonality of extreme weather events, and we must alter outdated concrete or “gray” infrastructure. Traditional river engineering of levees, locks, and dams increases the severity of river flow or lack thereof, creating problems for cargo shippers and regional economies. Nature-based and hybrid solutions are potential replacements or complements of gray infrastructure. Levee setbacks, reconnection of floodplains, wetland restoration, and utilization of flood bypasses should be emphasized on a regional scale as the Mississippi River region adjusts to rapidly changing water level patterns. The application of green infrastructure increases safety, limits financial risk, improves navigation functionality, restores river accessibility for local communities, and raises the overall environmental quality of the region.
Keywords
Mississippi River, Green Infrastructure, Climate Change, Cargo Shipping, Louisiana, Water Management
Citation
Ballett, E. (2023). Turmoil on the Mississippi River: Harnessing Green Infrastructure to Accommodate Drastically Changing Environmental Patterns. Supply Chain Management Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/scmtuht/39
Included in
Agribusiness Commons, Business Law, Public Responsibility, and Ethics Commons, Finance and Financial Management Commons, Operations and Supply Chain Management Commons