At first slaves built levees and embankments. When the work proved too dangerous to risk capital property, the task went to Irish immigrants. All the while, cities grew up along the River. Today, industries that must be served by ocean trade march a third of the way into the state. We've contained the Mississippi's attempt to move for a while.
Many observers look on attempts to hold the Mississippi as pure hubris.
One says, The three most arrogant human projects imaginable are, in descending order, to steal the sun, to make the rivers run backward, and to contain the Mississippi . The longer we hold this tiger by the tail, the more committed we are to a task that's more difficult every year. The Mississippi warns us, yet again, that nature's intent is inexorable. McPhee, J., The Control of Nature . The shape of the delta has changed dramatically and the south-eastern portion is far larger today.