Iowa Experiences Substantial Subsidence
In the heart of the Midwest, Davenport, Iowa, a city nestled along the mighty Mississippi River, holds a special place in the speaker's childhood memories. However, the river that once provided a backdrop for countless activities has become a symbol of the changing climate and its profound effects on food production areas.
The Great Flood of 1993, a once-in-a-century event, served as a grim reminder of the river's unpredictable nature. Fast forward to recent years, and the region has faced yet another onslaught of flooding, with May 2019 marking Iowa's wettest month on record. From June 2019, at least one million acres of land in the Midwest were submerged, causing over $1.5 billion in damages in Iowa alone.
These events have not gone unnoticed by the writer, who aims to bring attention to the impact of climate change on food production areas in the Midwest. Their work is a call to action, a plea for understanding and addressing the effects of a changing planet.
Davenport, without a protective flood wall to safeguard its banks, stands as a testament to the challenges faced by cities along the river. The estimated cost for building such a flood wall in Davenport is approximately $7.7 million. Yet, the construction of flood walls in cities like Davenport is estimated to cost over $175 million. This raises a question for these cities: to build flood walls and push the problem downstream, or to leave nature alone?
The flooding has led to water pollution, chemical runoff in cities, an inability to plant farm ground, and the loss of livestock pasture. Documenting flood seasons in the Midwest has become a way to shed light on these issues, to raise awareness about the changing planet and its effects on food production areas.
The writer's work serves to educate people about the importance of understanding where their food comes from and the people who create it. Often, people living on the coasts forget about the places their food comes from and who creates it. The writer's work aims to bridge this gap, to remind us that the Midwest, often overlooked in news coverage, is a vital part of our food system.
In a world where singular images of water in the Midwest dominate national headlines, the writer's work is a means to advocate for the importance of understanding and addressing the effects of climate change on food production areas. It is a call to remember Davenport, Iowa, and the countless other cities like it, as we grapple with the challenges of a changing planet.
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