In 1980, McPhee traveled with his daughter on a canoe trip on the Atchafalaya River due to her fascination with the novelist Walker Percy. He had conversations with natives about the efforts made by the Army Corps of Engineers in monitoring riverflow in the area.
In 1980, McPhee embarked on a canoe trip down the Atchafalaya River with his daughter, inspired by her admiration for novelist Walker Percy. He engaged in discussions with local people regarding the Army Corps of Engineers' efforts to monitor river levels in the region.