Channelization Channelization involves altering a stream channel in order to speed the flow of water to prevent it from reaching flood height This may simply involve clearing a channel of obstructions or dredging a channel to make it wider and deeper.
Another alteration involves straightening a channel by creating artificial cutoffs. The idea is that by shortening the stream, the gradient and hence the velocity are both increased. By increasing velocity, the larger discharge associated with flooding can be dispersed more rapidly. Since the early 1930s. th us Army of the purpose the for threat created many artificial on Mississippi the than and reducing of increasing of has been shortened somewhat of flooding In all, the river program has been 240 kilometers(150 miles) The successful in reducing the height of the river flood stage. How ever, because the tendency toward meandering still exists, preventing the ri returning to its previous course has river from been difficult.