The paper documents the hydraulic and geometric changes in the Vicksburg District portion of the river over the past 100 years, and particularly the period since the cutoffs. Because of many factors, the efficiency of the Mississippi River is lower than it was in 1950 and possibly even less efficient than it was as a natural unimproved river. Structures have been placed according to the availability of funds and wherever the need was the greatest. The geometry of the river has changed so fast, in response to the numerous cutoffs, that it has been almost impossible to fight it. The result is a poorly aligned river that has lost flood efficiency, proper sediment transport, and possibly some navigation control.