Mississippi River nears historic lows

[GKMan]

Is there anyone that is taking advantage of this to do the shorelines or some wading? I wish I wasn't a thousand miles away from it....


http://ca.news.yahoo.com/mississippi-river-approaching-historic-lows-shipping-risk-204126001.html

 

[mudpuppy]

Yeah! I suppose the main channel has been dredged and moved so many times it would not be a very good place to hunt...But I bet about 20 miles from the river at the junction of creeks that flow into feeder streams and rivers are low too, and those places would be great! maybe high bluffs along the river, or any old dirt nearby would be good.
Mud

 

[GKMan]

I forget that things are different out there I live along side the Hudson River which is travel the same path for a 1000 years since much of the shores are all rock. I have been able to recover Spanish silver Civil War era bullets and large cents wading along the shore during low tide.

 

[mudpuppy]

I remember watching a show a long time ago about some fellows that were looking for a sunken Paddlewheeler, they did find it, about 2 miles from the river buried 30 feet deep in a cornfield...thats how far the river channel had moved since the 1800's..I think theres a museum out there now...
Mud

 

[GKMan]

I remember hearing about that that. well I would think there must be some stationary parts of the river? But what do I know

 

[mudpuppy]

I'm sure there are...but man, the ACE has riprapped, dredged, filled, diked, dammed, modified pretty much all of it from St Louis on down..maybe a fellow could find a spot, If I get down that way soon I'll have a look around.
Mud

 

[GKMan]

well if you're ever back eastI can introduce you to a river that doesn't move so much

 

[warthog]

YES,I think it was in National Geographic Magazine,had an article on it.It carried tons of freight;clothes,farm implements,I think arms,too.Most of the cargo was still it the original crates,the hull of the ship protecting and preserving it,-When the cargo was revealed,there was wine still in the bottles;some clothes unbelievably still wearable.............

 

[fowlercharles]

Hi GKMan, My Diggin Buddies and I have had pretty good luck hunting river crossings/ old ferry sites where the travelers would camp while waiting for high water to recede and the ferry be back in operation. Sometimes folks would have to be camped for weeks while waiting.This type of research info is really hard to come by for some parts of the country, because in some areas, it is practically non existant.Local histories reveal some info, but I have found the older maps, that show any early trails/roads will at least give a hint of where the settlers were making their crossings, and in many cases a Topo will back up any evidence left showing those old roads/cuts/ leading to/from the actual crossings. High ground/flood free and in many cases clear water small streams/springs nearby, not affected by the muddy rivers. Such streams/springs near the campsites would certainly have been a comfort for watering stock,cooking and drinking. I have hunted campsites/crossings that were used by both troops from War of 1812 and CW, so the time period and varied assortment of travelers can really produce some interesting finds. I bet that is some good hunting too in those rocky bottom river beds. At least the goodies are more likely to stay put rather than be covered with 1' of sand or mud.Lol, Wish I had a river like that near by! HH, Charlie .