Construction of the Diversion Channel and levee system in 1913,
which created and then separated the Headwater Diversion Basin
from the larger Little River Basin, is the only significant
channelization project in the basin. The mouths of major
tributary streams entering the Diversion Channel have grade
control structures or channel realignments engineered to prevent
upstream movement of headcuts. Much of the Diversion Channel
Levee (right descending bank of the Diversion Channel) is
reveted with riprap and anchored concrete slabs. The left bank
of the Diversion Channel is not leveed and is subject to
frequent flooding by the Mississippi River. However, the left
bank and all channel alignments in the entire 34-mile
channelized reach are relatively stable and require little
maintenance. The incidence of channel disturbances caused by
private landowners is apparently low and minor. Few specific
sites and no stream reached have been identified, through Stream
Habitat Assessment Device (SHAD) surveys, as seriously