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The dawn of
civilization occurred in the world's flood plain deltas. Ancient Persians built levees in the rich ground of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and irrigated their
crops with the abundant water that existed there by mounting treadmill pumps. Egyptians built irrigation canals using the same principles we use today to calculate flow. So did
the Romans. Much of Holland was reclaimed from the sea.
Much of New Orleans was reclaimed from swamps. A large percentage of the
world's population lives in flood plains. Civilization could not have reached its
magnificence today it not for its successful use of the fertile floodplains of the world.
In more recent history, the development of earth moving equipment
has enabled humankind to derive even greater use of its flood plain resource. Most rivers
in Europe have been converted into lakes through the use of locks and dams. |
People admiring
broad expanses of the Seine in Paris are not looking at a river. The
Seine is a lake, which, without locks and dams, would resemble a run-out river such as the
Pearl in Jackson. Damming of rivers not only produces transportation, the
resulting lakes define the flood limits and increase the ability of water to flow, thereby
lowering flood levels and ending floods. Ancient cities solved their flooding problems
centuries ago, and they did this by developing their rivers; modern cities are doing the
same in this country. Metropolitan areas such as Austin, San Antonio, Chattanooga and Cincinnati have all converted their rivers into lakes.
By developing its floodplain Jackson will place itself in step with other communities
which, through history, have controlled and used their water resources for the betterment
of human life. |