The Exam #3 Study Guide is posted. Exam #3 is Thursday (3/31/11) in class.
Themes of the Day:
- Discussion of "Atchafalaya" by John McPhee
Discussion Topics
How should we deal with the lower Mississippi River System and Delta moving into the future?
The class will be divided into two groups: one will argue for a conservative/status quo approach, and the other will argue for more radical changes in policy.
Your presentation should demonstrate that you understand the geologic concepts discussed
in Chapter #8, as well as the concepts discussed by John McPhee in his work "Atchafalaya". Striking an appropriate balance
between natural forces and human needs will be key to any successful plan. Here are some questions to guide your planning:
- Get a feel for the lay of the land using Google Earth and/or other web resources.
- How does your proposal deal with the twin threats of flooding from the Mississippi River and hurricanes coming from the Gulf of Mexico?
- How does your proposal deal with subsidence of the Mississippi Delta?
- How does your proposal deal with the impending capture of the Mississippi by the Atchafalaya River?
- How does your proposal deal with the economic importance of the Mississippi River as a conduit for trade between the American heartland and the world?
- How does your proposal deal with the political and emotional concerns of the people who call that region home?
Some other resources that may be helpful:
