Army Corps to begin flood fight as Mississippi River rises following torrential rains
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - As the Mississippi River continues to rise, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will begin Phase One of their flood fight next week, which includes daily inspections.
The Carrollton gauge measured the river at 8.5 feet on Wednesday (April 9).
According to the Corps, the Bonnet Carré Spillway could open when the river reaches 16 feet or higher at that location. But they say flow rate of 1.25 million cubic feet per second is the determining factor for any opening. They say that’s determined by weather conditions upriver, and the time of year.
“As of today, we’re not forecasting the operation of the spillway, but we are seeing the forecast change daily and we’re making our preparations and making sure the system is ready to perform as designed,” said Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett.
If conditions change, the Corps is prepared to act. For now, however, they do not anticipate opening the Bonnet Carré Spillway, which is used to divert fresh river water into Lake Pontchartrain to reduce pressure on New Orleans’ levees.
Although designed for flood control, opening the spillway has historically drawn opposition from fishermen due to the impact of freshwater on marine life, including fish, oysters, and crabs in both Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi Sound.
Coast in Crisis: The Mississippi River seems to be giving Louisiana a free coastal project
Under Phase One of the flood fight, anyone doing subsurface construction work within 1,500 feet of the levee will be required to obtain a waiver from the Corps to continue operations. This is to prevent the creation of seepage paths that could compromise the levees.
Officials say an outright ban on construction near the levees could be implemented within the next two weeks if river levels continue to rise.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2025 WVUE. All rights reserved.
