Semester of Graduation
May 2020
Degree
Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA)
Department
Landscape Architecture
Document Type
Thesis
Abstract
Settlement and engagement along a river’s edge can be seen throughout human history. The direct proximity to a water’s edge has both physical and mental benefits, as well as economic value. However, throughout the last century, cities and their citizens along the Mississippi River have become disconnected from their water’s edge; due to man-made interventions for increased flood control and advancements in the maritime industry. These interventions appeared to be prudent at the time and contributed to many cities' economies to growth, poor planning and placement of these interventions created barriers between citizens and their water’s edge. This thesis analyzes cities along the Mississippi River and their quantitative connection to the water’s edge and identifies potential areas of improvement through the analysis of current successful solutions. Beginning the largest southern city on the river, New Orleans, LA, I will visit, document, and geospatially analyze 12 cities along the Mississippi River, ending in Minneapolis, MN. The goal for this research is to offer any river city the tools to identify, document, and calculate any man-made barriers placed between their city and their river’s edge. If any issues of disconnection through man-made barriers are identified, cities can utilize these findings with successful solutions from the 12 cities studied along the Mississippi River to determine potential improvements that will fit their unique site and specific needs.
Recommended Citation
jacobsen, taylor, "Give Us Back Our River's Edge: An Analysis Of Man Made Flood Controls Along The Mississippi River" (2020). LSU Master's Theses. 5124.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_theses/5124
Committee Chair
Nicholas Serrano
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_theses.5124