The system, which is shown below, is operated by the US Army Corps of Engineers for flood control, low-flow augmentation, fish/wildlife, water supply, and recreation. Operators follow guidelines described in reservoir regulation manuals that were prepared as part of the design of the system. The Great Midwest Flood of 1993 along the Upper Mississippi River and its tributaries caused an estimated 48 fatalities and $15-20 billion in economic damages, surpassing all floods in the United States in modern times. This flooding and the resulting damage raised questions regarding the efficiency of flood-control operation.
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