Editing Missouri Bootheel (section)

==Swamp reclamation and flooding==
[[File:Mississippi River floodplain in Pemiscot Township.jpg|thumb|A typical Bootheel scene: the Mississippi floodplain in southern Pemiscot County]]

As glaciers receded towards the end of the [[Last Glacial Period|Ice Age]] and turned ice into liquid, the Mississippi River grew longer and wider. Over time, the silt deposits of the Mississippi created some of the most fertile soil in the world, ideal for agriculture. The areas around the Mississippi are composed of thick [[regolith]] that is around {{convert|100|m|ft}} thick. The Bootheel lies in the flood plain between the [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] and [[St. Francis River|St. Francis rivers]], so the land is very flat. Since clearing and drainage of wetlands in the early 20th century, it has been predominantly developed for [[agriculture|agricultural]] purposes. Prior to the 20th century, it was mostly unsettled [[swamp]]y forestland.

Between 1893 and 1989, developers cut about 85% of the native forests in the region; most clearing was done in the early decades of the 20th century. The entire landscape was transformed into farmland by extensive logging, draining of the [[Drainage basin|watershed]], [[River engineering#Channelization|channelization]], and the construction of [[flood control]] structures. High [[levees]] along both river courses, an extensive system of drainage ditches and diversion channels, and controlled lakes, pumping stations and cutoffs protect the area from flooding. The soils are predominantly a rich and deep glacial [[loess]], alluvial [[silt]], and a sandy [[loam]], well-suited for agricultural use.

But the levees have changed the nature of the rivers, and cumulatively have aggravated flooding problems. They also prevent regular silt deposits, as they have increased the speed of the rivers. The reduction in wetlands has reduced important habitats for many species of migratory birds and a variety of fish and animals.

Flooding is a major concern along the Mississippi River. With such a large river basin and the vast discharge of water, the river makes the towns along its banks highly susceptible to frequent flooding. The [[National Weather Service]] reported that from 1980 to 2002, nine floods in the United States had total losses exceeding one billion dollars. In terms of monetary loss and effects on society, the [[Great Flood of 1993]] was the worst.<ref>{{Citation |last=Orne |first=Anthony R. |title=The Physical Geography of North America |location=Oxford |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-19-511107-9 }}.</ref>