New Orleans District directed to open Morganza Floodway when conditions are met

Published May 13, 2011

NEW ORLEANS - The President of the Mississippi River Commission, Maj. Gen. Michael Walsh has directed the Commander of the New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Col. Ed Fleming, to operate the Morganza Floodway when river flows have reached the trigger of 1.5 million cubic feet per second and are projected to continue rising. Maj. Gen. Walsh directed a slow opening of the floodway when that trigger is reached.

Operation of the structure will relieve pressure on local levees, lower the river stage, and reduce the velocity of the river current below Point Coupee. As illustrated on the attached “Estimated Inundation” map, the following parishes will be affected by the operation of this structure: Pointe Coupee, St Landry, St Martin, Iberia, Iberville, St Mary, and Terrebonne parishes. Once open, water will begin flowing down the Atchafalaya Basin, as shown in the “Morganza Floodway Travel Times” map. The spillway will remain open until the river flow drops to 1. 5 million cfs and are projected to continue decreasing.

The Morganza Floodway is located 310 river miles above New Orleans on the west bank of the river in Pointe Coupee Parish. It was constructed in 1954 to maintain a flow of 1.5 million cfs below the floodway and has only been operated once before in 1973 to relieve pressure from, therefore maintaining the Mississippi River’s course. The structure is 3,906 feet in length with 125 bays, which can move up to 600,000 cubic feet per second of water if necessary

 

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Contact
Rachel Rodi
504-862-2587
rachel.rodi@usace.army.mil

Release no. 11-067