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Our waterways need our attention
Published Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Hey, it’s me again! This time it’s important to look around and see what’s happening to our world.
I’m not talking about politics, weather or wars and rumors of wars. I’m reflecting on our geography.
Wells Creek, which runs from somewhere above Hamburg in Franklin County to Section 57 in southeastern Adams County on the Homochitto River, has responded to natural results of man-made changes.
Before the 1940s, the Homochitto flooded the entire bottomland, from hills on the right to the hills on the left on its entire length.
Sometimes this was two to three miles wide and it flooded quickly after a hard rain. Sometimes crops had to be replanted several times to get the crop in after the last devastating flood of the springtime.
Cattle were very vulnerable due to the fact that the lowest regions of the valley was nearest the hills.
The cattle would move to the higher ground on the banks of the river and, in desperation, would attempt to swim back to the hills when the river banks went under the torrent.
They drowned in entanglements of vines in swift current.
The river in those days was very narrow and crooked.
In an attempt to alleviate this curse, the Homochitto was straightened and guess what, it didn’t flood as before, but many corn and sugar cane fields quickly relocated to the Gulf of Mexico. Also, its bottom lowered as it widened and all the tributaries started “head cutting.”
Wells Creek took over 60 years to head cut enough to destroy the bridge near Garden City at Dixie Plantation.
In another 10 years it will threaten the bridge on Mississippi 33 near Knoxville and Liberty Road.
What is so sad is that Pipe’s Lake in southeastern Adams County is two feet below last year’s watermark.
I sincerely believe Levees Creek has been lowering its bottom, and head cutting is threatening the most and last pristine waterfowl and fish habitat we have to enjoy.
If you are interested in establishing a “Friends of Pipe’s Lake” to raise awareness and hopefully secure a rescue attempt to save the lake, please contact me at 601-446-5284, P.O. Box 118 Natchez 39121.
Also, please contact your U.S. Forest Service, Soil Conservator, Congressman, etc., to form the necessary resources on this rescue effort.
Thank you for listening and may you enjoy our wonderful outdoors as much as I have.
Erle Drane is an Adams County resident.
Comments
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 11:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Headcutting is a pretty amazing result of deforestation and channelization.
The Homochitto drainage and Bayou Pierre are impressive examples.
I don't think most folks give a flip about this, unfortunately, and what can we do?
Seems like if people cut their trees the way they do it will run rampant all the way up the drainages. Isn't the only money available for this sort of project US govmint money?
And do us po folks have any voice in the decisions at all?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on September 30, 2008 at 8:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeahuhuh, yes the little people can make a difference. I remember years ago some wanted to channelize the Okatoma. That would have destroyed the best canoe creek in our state and the people stood against it. It takes a combined effort and it takes having enough people who "give a flip" about it.
I've canoed the Homochitto from Bude to Hwy 61 so I really didn't remember what channelization (destruction) was being mentioned. I found this info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homochitto_...
Apparently its been done downstream from where I've paddled but the work there has helped speed water flow upstream.
I don't know how this stuff could possibly affect Pipes Lake since it's a natural lake and not an impounded creek. Its not an oxbow either and I've been told that makes it extremely rare in Mississippi. Its worth protecting.
Posted by Yeahuhuh (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 3:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I got the impression that the creek that was once fed into through Pipes was probably headcutting, but I don't know. Pipes Lake is a natural lake? How's that? An old channel? I thought it was in the hills.
The Harrison Water District over there near Hattiesburg was active with a lot of projects, and I can see how vocal groups could stop something there -- the Okatoma is a super little river -- but is there any government group or agency around here that deals with stuff in the Homochitto Drainage?
Posted by OldGrandDad (anonymous) on October 1, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Pipes Lake is in the hills but it seems to be a depression in the hills. I once canoed around it looking for the dam and could not find it. I was later told that it was not a manmade lake but was a natural lake in the hills. Most of our southern natural lakes are old oxbows in floodplains but Pipes Lake is a natural lake not formed by any river. Who knows how it was formed? But it will eventually be gone one day with simple erosion from the surrounding hills and also the yearly runnoff of leaves, sticks, logs, etc. It looks nothing like it used to. One day it will be a swamp. And then in another age it will be dry land.
Sorry but I have no idea on any agencies dealing with the Homochitto. Just don't tell the Corp of Engineers that the Homochitto actually exists. They'd either turn it into a 90 mile long ditch or a 90 mile long lake. They HATE free running water.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on October 2, 2008 at 10:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It is my opinion that a lake on the Homochitto would be a huge boost (asset) to southwest Mississippi.
Dam up the river on US 61 south and back up the water to MS 33. I would suggest at least 10 feet of water underneath the bridge on 33.
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