This episode is part of a series Mississippi By Nature that explores how nature based solutions are helping the river and its communities.

For the past 200 years, no single entity has had more influence on the Mississippi River than the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Since 1824, the federal agency has been responsible for maintaining navigation, promoting commerce, and preventing flooding along the waterway.

This responsibility has primarily involved the construction of rigid infrastructure such as levees and spillways, effectively constraining the river from its natural behaviors.

In this episode, Tim Axtman, a Senior Planner at the Army Corps, delves into this rich history and its outcomes. He also explains how the agency is working to adopt an engineering with nature approach in the Mississippi, which often entails allowing the river to flow more freely and transport sediment as it did in the past.

waterloop is a nonprofit media outlet. The Mississippi By Nature series is supported by the Walton Family Foundation and outfitted by Patagonia.