Yazoo Basin levee system

The Yazoo Basin levee system is a network of embankments constructed along the Mississippi River and its tributaries in northwest Mississippi. Its purpose is to control flooding by containing high water levels, protecting towns, farmland, and ecological areas. The levees direct floodwaters away from populated and agricultural regions, reducing flood damage. Built through government and local efforts, this system plays a vital role in flood risk management, allowing for safer habitation and farming while also maintaining natural floodplain functions areas dedicated to water management and habitat preservation.