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Is there a backup for the Old River control structure?
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:22 am
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:22 am
If this thing breaks at any of those three points (or at the lock just downriver from there), what is left to stop the Mississippi River from changing course?
If one of these structures appear to be struggling, what would they do to remedy it? Open Morganza completely to reduce pressure?
If one of these structures appear to be struggling, what would they do to remedy it? Open Morganza completely to reduce pressure?
17
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:24 am to goofball
Which spillway "ruins" the beaches in Miss for the summer? Open that one lol.
This post was edited on 2/14/22 at 8:24 am
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:24 am to goofball
Yes, a lot of land and structures behind it..
This post was edited on 2/14/22 at 8:25 am
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:29 am to goofball
There's several documentaries about this. Everyone in Morgan City would be on their roofs like Katrina.
I say that, but everyone in Morgan City I know has a minimum of two boats.
I say that, but everyone in Morgan City I know has a minimum of two boats.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:30 am to goofball
I get a sensible chuckle out of the people who cut diamonds over the river changing course. They act like the COE would throw their hands up and say oh well and not do anything about it. It would break during a high water level but they’d wait for the water level to go down and rebuild it like they built it the first time. It would be a painful time to live along the Atchafalaya though.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:31 am to goofball
No.
Do you work for the Corps ?
Do you work for the Corps ?
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:33 am to The Boat
quote:
I get a sensible chuckle out of the people who cut diamonds over the river changing course. They act like the COE would throw their hands up and say oh well and not do anything about it. It would break during a high water level but they’d wait for the water level to go down and rebuild it like they built it the first time. It would be a painful time to live along the Atchafalaya though.
this
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:34 am to The Boat
quote:
It would be a painful time to live along the Atchafalaya though.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:38 am to goofball
quote:
Is there a backup for the Old River control structure?
No. The Corps considers Old River the keystone of the Mississippi flood control system. If Old River is lost, then the war is lost.
If you've never read it, check out The Control of Nature by John McPhee.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:50 am to bbarras85
quote:as someone born and raised in the area you're right on both accounts.
There's several documentaries about this. Everyone in Morgan City would be on their roofs like Katrina.
I say that, but everyone in Morgan City I know has a minimum of two boats.
ive always been curious what, if anything, the seawall would do to mitigate the issue in morgan city itself. 
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:52 am to BorrisMart
quote:
Which spillway "ruins" the beaches in Miss for the summer? Open that one lol.
That's the Bonnet Carré Spillway. Bonnet Carré Spillway is waaaaaaay downstream of the Old River control structure. It's about 15 miles upstream of NOLA.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 8:57 am to The Boat
I agree with it breaking during a high water event. I would love to see a model of this happening. The Atchafalaya has far fewer bends and turns in it. I imagine that the water would rush down it with some serious current and turbulence.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:01 am to Pedro
quote:
as someone born and raised in the area you're right on both accounts
Same. The baws would be running crab traps on Victor II
It would decimate the area. That amount of water going down a much smaller, way more shallow river. The seawall would be 20' under water.
This post was edited on 2/14/22 at 9:05 am
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:02 am to goofball
There’s nothing else stopping it from changing course
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:08 am to Btrtigerfan
At least when people talk about it breaking it’s a realistic event that will happen eventually. It’s just common sense they would rebuild the structure and wouldn’t leave the river to its fate.
The dumb people were ones in 2011 who thought the river could change course through the Morganza structure. There were people all over the internet talking about that when we opened it up in 2011. When the river is low enough it’s leveed and doesn’t even interact with the spillway structure.
The dumb people were ones in 2011 who thought the river could change course through the Morganza structure. There were people all over the internet talking about that when we opened it up in 2011. When the river is low enough it’s leveed and doesn’t even interact with the spillway structure.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:08 am to The Boat
I don't think you fully understand the nature of the problem. The MS river channel is silting in downstream of the control structure, the Atchafalaya River channel is scouring. When the control structure washes away, the river channel will scour significantly. The task will no longer be simply diverting the flow - the entire MS river which will now be moving at much higher velocity will have to be diverted up hill into a river channel that is silted in.
Could it be done?
I'm sure, but the costs would be astronomical.
Could it be done?
I'm sure, but the costs would be astronomical.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:09 am to The Boat
quote:
At least when people talk about it breaking it’s a realistic event that will happen eventually. It’s just common sense they would rebuild the structure and wouldn’t leave the river to its fate.
We can't even get a fricking bridge or a highway built. You think they'd spend billions of dollars dredging the lower Mississippi and building a huge new control structure?
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:11 am to Btrtigerfan
I believe they'll eventually have to build yet another auxiliary station.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:13 am to GumboPot
quote:
That's the Bonnet Carré Spillway. Bonnet Carré Spillway is waaaaaaay downstream of the Old River control structure. It's about 15 miles upstream of NOLA.
I know I was just being a dick.
Posted on 2/14/22 at 9:13 am to Btrtigerfan
quote:
I would love to see a model of this happening.
You need to go visit this place. It worth the trip if you’re interested in that kind of stuff. There’s also a virtual tour on the website.
LSU Center for River Studies
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