Downstream Neighbors

(Levees: an embankment built to prevent the overflow of a river.)
Going downstream we get to see a lot of the affected communities and how the lower river has to adjust to higher waters from the upper river. During our time in the Quad Cities, we got to talk to a Professor at Augustana College and he talked to us a bit about levees. We got to see on one side of the river one town had built a levee and the other side decided not to. During the time we were there the river was flooding and was a prime example of what happens when levees are put up and what their effects are on neighboring river towns. One side the water was creeping up onto some business that was close to the river. On the other side of the river there was a levee that basically pushed the water down and out of there way, which in turn effects other river communities like the one right across from them. Many cities that build levees usually are cities that can afford them and are willing to put other neighboring cities at risk of flooding. Most cities that are at risk of flooding are usually poorer communities that don’t have access to the river and just see the river as a danger to their well being.
Here is a video that was shared with us during out lecture:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LTv6RkFnelM