Unless forecasted conditions change, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to open the Morganza Spillway on Saturday (June 2), the agency said on Memorial Day. It would be only the third time the structure west of Baton Rouge has ever been opened.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said at a May 23 press conference that elevated water levels in Assumption, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes had already impacted transportation. A half-mile section of Louisiana 70 in St. Martin Parish was already underwater at the time, he said.
“The current flood fight is historic and unprecedented,” said a corps statement issued Monday.
Monday marks the 214th day of the current “flood fight” and is expected to surpass the 1973 record of 225 days for the longest flood fight. It’s also the first time the Bonnet Carre Spillway has opened in back-to-back years and the first time it’s been opened twice in the same calendar year.
The Mississippi River is expected to crest at 62 feet on June 6 at Red River Landing in Pointe Coupee Parish, only a foot and a half below that location’s all-time high crest, according to Wednesday’s forecast by the Lower Mississippi River Forecast Center, based in Slidell. Red River Landing is only about 16 miles above the Morganza Spillway.
In Monday’s statemet, the corps’ New Orleans District Commander Michael Clancy said opening the spillway would prevent it from overtopping and minimize stress on levees.
More than 5 inches of rain is expected over parts of Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Iowa over the next week, according to the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center.
Governor to call for federal emergency declaration ahead of potential opening of Morganza Spillway
The Morganza Spillway was previously opened in 1973 and 2011. Though conditions could change, the corps expects opening the spillway to divert about 150,000 cubic feet of water per second into the floodway.
Building on lessons learned during the 2011 historic Mississippi River flood, the corps "will implement a gradual opening of the floodway to minimize impacts to wildlife, particularly the black bear population, and allow Federal and state resource agencies to coordinate and implement rescue efforts for various species,” the statement says. The gradual opening allows the corps to limit elevations by adding a foot of water per day for the first three days, according to the agency.
Other work included in the corps’ 24/7 flood flight includes daily levee inspections with local levee districts as well as coordinating with other federal state and local agencies, and first responders to “ensure safe passage of this high water event.”
This year’s flood fight is historic and unprecedented. Today marks the 214 day of the effort. This year’s event is expected to surpass the 1973 event (225 days) as the longest flood fight. In addition to a historic back-to-back opening in 2018 and 2019, this is the first time the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway has operated twice during the same calendar year.
The corps said any residents landowners and business who may be impacted by the spillway opening should heed directions from local officials and “take all necessary precautions.”
Gov. Edwards said Thursday that his office would ask for a federal emergency declaration to help with the cost of employing dams along Highway 70 as well as sandbagging and employing pumps in the affected area, which includes up to 25,000 acres of farmland.
Edwards encouraged residents to check 511LA.org for updates and real-time information on road closures.
NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune reporter Maria Clark contributed to this report.
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