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On May 17, 1927, the Mississippi River levee at Melville, Louisiana, broke, and massive destruction followed.  Before this frightening day in May, rain had fallen heavily for many months.  All along the banks of the Mississippi River, levees burst and millions of acres were flooded.  Many people died, and others lost their homes. 

The nation was stunned by this destructive natural disaster, and the government acted so that it could never happen again.  Congress passed the “Flood Control Act” in 1928.  This Act developed a thorough flood control system and created the “Mississippi River and Tributaries” project (MR&T).  As part of the flood control system, man-made levees were built along the Atchafalaya River and Basin.

Today, one of the most important functions of the Atchafalaya River and Basin is flood control.  The levees contain the flood waters, and channel them safely to the Gulf of Mexico.  But building these levees has changed the nature of the Basin.  Edit  »  

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