Just Keep Pedaling: 2023

Let's just start off with what needs to be said: This thing needs to be a part of the National Park Service. Now. Full stop.

What was initially just a random Fotospot find (“Hey it’s right off the interstate, and we’re not on a terribly tight schedule today, so we might as well go get it for the 15-point Fotospot check-in”), turned into what we both agree was a golden hidden treasure find. We had no idea this existed. None.

After seeing this in person, we both agree on this: How this project is sitting abandoned and vandalized instead of under the auspices of the National Park Service is something neither of us can understand. We are encouraged to see that though it was abandoned decades ago by the Corps of Engineers as a working project, the site is not completely neglected. It has an active organization, the nonprofit Friends of the Mississippi River Basin, doing monthly clean up activities at the site according to their active Facebook page.

The scientific and historical relevance of this project is an integral part of mid-20th century America. This article explains what a flood-control engineering and lifesaving marvel this truly was, in the era predating computer modeling.

This article from the April 1948 issue of Popular Science gives an account from that era of the project, including photos of what it looked like when it was in operation.

It appears there are hopes to develop this site. Check out this awesome master plan map on the Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model website and the proposed project on the architect's website here. As with everything, it likely comes down to money.

What will it take to get this into the National Park Service? According to the criteria on this PDF:

"A proposed unit will be considered nationally significant if it meets all four of the following standards:

• it is an outstanding example of a particular type of resource.

• it possesses exceptional value or quality in illustrating or interpreting
the natural or cultural themes of our Nation’s heritage.

• it offers superlative opportunities for recreation for public use and enjoyment, or for scientific study.

• it retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of the resource."

My opinion of why each of the 4 criteria are met are below (for all that's worth):
1. Likely the BEST (and by far the largest) example of its particular type. -- Check.

2. Its scientific value in modeling, forecasting and preventing flooding of the Mississippi River in the era predating computer modeling was proven to prevent flooding in Omaha which prevented an estimated $65 million in damages in that instance alone, and undoubtedly saved lives, according to the excellent scholarly article, "The Scale of Nature: Modeling the Mississippi." -- Check.

3.
Superlative opportunities for recreation, public use and enjoyment: You get to walk around and pretend you're a giant in a Lilliputian sized world. That's pretty damn recreational. And cool. -- Check.
Superlative opportunities for scientific study: Science saves lives. This is a scale-model STEM project, one that school children and adults alike should experience. -- Check.

4. It retains a high degree of integrity as a true, accurate, and relatively unspoiled example of a resource due to the diligent and neverending work of the volunteer nonprofit organization. Having it under the maintenance of the National Park Service would ensure it retains its integrity for future generations. It is a very important but absolutely unknown national treasure. -- Check

Let's get this done. It deserves to be a National Park.

The Mississippi River Basin model is in Buddy Butts Park and is open to the public. To get to the model, take the Springridge Road exit on Interstate 20, turn left at McRaven Road and go to where the road T's (you'll see the rusty water tower and this kiosk.)

You won't see the model from the kiosk. Don't be intimidated by the shoulder-high weeds. There are paths mowed through them to walk back to the model

This building was the shop. Per the Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model website "This is where the tools for upkeep on the model and the 4-wheeled 'mules' that were used for hauling things around were stored. There was also an office that had the various parts and equipment for repairing the instruments when they broke."

There are no designations naming where you are standing on the model, just some cryptic codes such as this. Wish I knew what they mean. Mile 420?

If I read the map correctly on the Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model website, this part of the model is the Mississippi River around Vicksburg/Baton Rouge.

See what looks like two miniature football goalposts in the center left edge of this picture?
Based on pictures from when the model was in operation on my links provided above,
I believe those had signs on them designating town names.

One of the pipes that would have been used to supply water to the working hydraulic model.

Sure wish we knew where we were walking. That would ratchet up the cool factor even more.

Did the curb like things going through the word "pedaling" in this picture represent existing levees?

Not sure what topography this is supposed to represent.

Again, is this representing levees along a river?

There are mountains of this accordian'ed wire mesh lying about in many places.
It apparently had been used on the model to simulate trees so the effects of foliage on the water flow could be accurately represented.

Assume this is one of the pumps?

More mesh.

Wasn't kidding when I said there were mountains and mountains of mesh.

The heavily vandalized Baton Rouge Control House.
Per the Friends of the Mississippi River Basin Model website: "The control houses were located along the major streams and housed the flow programmers, stage recorders and automatic calendars to provide control centers for operating the automatic instrumentation (MBM Report 1-6, August 1971). The Baton Rouge House was also used for offices. This was where work was done on reports and the records kept."