Novel Examines Potential Mississippi River Divergence
A new novel explores the environmental risks posed by a failure of the critical Old River Control Structure.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Environmental
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Author Rick Bahlinger has released his debut novel, Mother Nature Hates To Lose, which depicts a fictionalized environmental crisis in eastern central Louisiana. The story focuses on the ecological dangers of the Old River Control Structure, a complex in Concordia Parish designed to keep the Mississippi River from changing its course.
Why it matters
The book aims to highlight the regional threat posed by a structural collapse, referencing the historical 1973 near-failure of the levee and lock system. This fictional narrative draws attention to the ongoing engineering challenges involved in managing the massive waterway's path through the state.
The Old River Control Structure was tested in 1973 when it faced a near-failure event. The facility remains the primary defense against the Mississippi River diverting its course into the Atchafalaya River basin.
The players
Rick Bahlinger
An LSU industrial engineering alumnus and author whose work focuses on Louisiana environmental infrastructure.
Louise Harris
A ghostwriter who assisted in the development of the novel Mother Nature Hates To Lose.
The details
The novel incorporates research on the Louisiana canal system to illustrate the mechanics of potential flooding. It weaves this environmental premise into a thriller plot involving drug cartels and political figures. Rick Bahlinger, who earned an industrial engineering degree from LSU in 1975, worked with ghostwriter Louise Harris to develop the technical narrative.
Timeline
1973: The Old River Control Structure nearly failed.
1975: Rick Bahlinger graduated from LSU.
October 7, 2026: The novel was published.
The Tech Race
The story follows a pattern set by decades of concern regarding the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Old River Control Structure management project. It mirrors ongoing public debates about the structural vulnerabilities of major river diversion systems.
Readers in Louisiana may find the book's setting in eastern central parishes relevant to local concerns regarding the state's canal systems. The novel is currently available for those interested in the intersections of regional infrastructure policy and fiction.
The takeaway
The novel serves as a fictionalized warning about the instability of local river systems. Residents can watch for public updates regarding the maintenance and future capacity of the Old River Control Structure.
Further reading
For more on the state's geography and management, read the Environmental section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Reveille.
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