NEW ORLEANS – The Corps has activated the first phase of flood fight procedures to monitor levees along the unusually high rivers.
Closely coordinating efforts with the local levee authorities, the New Orleans District will begin patrolling the levees tomorrow and will continue to do so weekly while the river remains high.
“Phase one is a proactive measure that is triggered when the Mississippi River reaches 11 feet and is forecast to continue to rise,” said Mike Stack, chief of the Emergency Management Office. “The increased patrols help ensure our ability to quickly respond to any problem areas that may develop along the levee system because of the elevated water levels.”
Typically, high water season occurs in the spring, but heavy rainfall in the Mississippi River valley has slowly increased river water levels. The current water level at the Carrollton Gage is 12.2 feet, breaking the 1986 record of 10 feet for this timeframe. The current National Weather Service crest forecast is at 13.5 feet at the Carrollton Gage on November 17.
At this time the Corps does not anticipate opening the Bonnet Carré Spillway.
Release no. 09-029