NEW ORLEANS – Based on lessons learned from the historic Mississippi River Flood of 2011, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District is releasing proposed clarifications to the standing instructions for operation of the Morganza Control Structure during a flood event. The Corps is releasing these proposed clarifications for a 30-day public review period and will host several public meetings to gather public input.
The proposed clarifications to the standing instructions will help ensure safe operation of the Morganza Control Structure during a flood event and prevent unnecessary stress on mainline Mississippi River levees. As proposed, the Morganza Control Structure would be operated when a 10-day forecast projects a Mississippi River flow of 1.5 million cubic feet per second and rising past the structure. The structure would be operated to maintain a water stage of 57 feet on the river side of the structure and a Mississippi River discharge rate that does not exceed 1.5 million cubic feet per second below the floodway.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers learned important lessons from 2011 regarding the safe operation of the Mississippi River and Tributaries System and the Morganza Control Structure. The Corps’ goal for operation is to pass the project flood through the Mississippi River and Tributaries System safely, while reducing unnecessary stress on the flood control structures and the mainline MR&T levees. In the event that the Morganza Control Structure needs to be operated, the Corps will coordinate all emergency operation efforts with our federal, state and local partners before, during and after such events.
The proposed clarifications to the standing instructions are available online for public review at: www.mvn.usace.army.mil/Missions/MississippiRiverFloodControl/MorganzaFloodwayOverview.aspx.
The Corps is committed to gathering public input on these proposed clarifications to the standing instructions, and will be hosting informational meetings following the 30-day public review period.
Public meeting details are:
When: Tuesday, September 23, 2014
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Open House
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Presentation, Question and Answer Session
Where: Butte La Rose/Breaux Bridge
Location Details to be Determined
When: Tuesday, September 30, 2014
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Open House
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Presentation, Question and Answer Session
Where: Morgan City
Morgan City Auditorium
728 Myrtle Street
Morgan City, LA 70380
When: Thursday, October 2, 2014
6:00 to 6:30 p.m. – Open House
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Presentation, Question and Answer Session
Where: Baton Rouge
Location Details to be Determined
Please contact the New Orleans District, Public Affairs Office for more information at AskTheCorps@usace.army.mil or 504-862-1759. Hard copies of the proposed clarifications to the standing instructions can be mailed upon request.