Sediments Forming the Bed and Banks of the Lower Mississippi River and Their Effect on River Migration

Physiographic features and depositional history of the sediments forming the bed and banks of the lower 200 miles of the Mississippi River are summarized. From mile 200‐ 160 the river is scouring into coarse substratum sands, between miles 160 and 80 into Pleistocene clays, and between mile 80 and 0 chiefly into prodelta and interdistributary clays. Point‐bar accretion averages 500 acres per river mile in the uppermost segment, 200 acres per river mile in the middle segment, and 30 acres per river mile in the lower‐ most segment. The occurrence of bends caused by faulting or formed during seaward growth of the delta, and the occasional existence of coarse materials in the path of the stream are significant factors in the initiation of meanders. The composition of the bed and banks, and the length of channel occupation are important in the rate and extent of migration. Migration of the river between miles 0 and.160 has been and should continue to be very slow.