re: Mississippi River Flooding - Links & Pictures in 1st Post

The flooding in St. Francisville, they are talking about, is mainly Cat Island and Bayou Sara area

Morganza spillway is directly across on the Westbank of the River. I'm not positive Morganza will lead to the Flooding in St. Francisville. Seems like it should decrease the water. I think its just from high water. Same way it will be in Baton Rouge with Morganza opening

quote:

---

Is La 1 across the spillway closed today? I was thinking about riding across the New Audubon Bridge in St. Francsiville and then too Morganza

---

Everything is still open. Made that trip yesterday but going from West ot East instead. The new bridge is impressive.

Good Morning all - ScottieP, LSUDad, anyone else -

How many gates were opened (initally, maximum) at the Morganza Locks structure in 1973?

My memory tells me that 12 were opened in '73 at the beginning and the USACE admitted they opened too many to begin with. Mentioned this in another thread. All this time I thought that about 12 was the max. they opened. But I'm sure my memory is failing me 38 years later.....

All the pics I have seen (see Links in 1st post on page 1 of this thread as consolidated by RummelTiger) show that only about 14 gates were open (of 125 total gates per Links). I have seen the same 14 gates open in another link of USACE pics in 1973, but I cannot find in any Googled links where the USACE states how many gates were opened. The USACE website only mentions that the "Morganza Locks were partially opened in '73". Thanks for the info, USACE. BTW, as an engineer I totally support USACE!!!!

MrLSU posted on p. 84:

quote:

---

Only 42 of the 126 gates were opened on the Morganza in 1973. USACE are saying at least 100 of the 126 will probably be utilized for this flood.

---

I think he got this info from the Advocate:

Advocate article

Where did she get her info from? I know, this is a super rhetorical question. See, that's one of many problems with media - they don't need to provide links or disclose sources. They are purportedly the "link" - LOL - hahahaha. 'Nuff said on media and their "sources".....

Kajungee posted on p. 94:

quote:

---

I do not think they have opened any now that the forebay is filling. They only opened 20 something in 73.

---

His/Her statement is as legit as anybody else's statement. I have seen other posters say anywhere from 20% to 50% of the gates will be opened, while Ms. Amy of the Advocate writes her article (I'm assuming she is quoting her source) and reports that as much as 100 gates (80%) will be opened. Conjecture is subjective.

My question (admittedly to assist the conjecture ) really is: "how many gates were really opened in '73?".

Having been previously totally wiped out by a flood equivalent of hurricane high water surge (low lying area of coastal Baytown, Texas in 1982 - 7 foot waterline as measured later in my house), my prayers are out to low-lying residents. Get your most important belongings and get to high ground - you can always start over, but play it smart and keep yourself and your loved ones safe. This looks like it may be a bad one to many of you guys.

I was also (like many people) trying to gage the extent of flooding (over the various types of containment levees, breaches of same, backwater flooding, etc.) if the full extent of the 600,000 cfs of the Morganza Locks rating were to be released.

My uneducated estimate is that even if 100 of the gates were opened, the spillway would be the same level as the River. Note this would be a raging torrent of water and (with the much shorter distance to the Gulf) would tend to float MC out into the Bay. Just my take. That is to say, USACE, is 600,000 cfs still a good estimate? Them's some big gates.

I've seen them from up close from downstream fishing after they were closed in '73. Fabulous fishing. That's a story for later - trying to stay positive. For now, them's some big gates!!!!

But I digress - TIA for any legitimate, official links (or other credible insider USACE info) re. how many gates were actually opened in '73....

quote:

---

Seems like you would be east of New roads not west once you crossed the bridge.

---

uhhh you are east of new roads

quote:

---

. feel bad for the farmers that will lose crops along the spillway .. but i guess they had a nice 38-year run ..

---

They know this every year going in. It is sad to see, along with homes/camps.

Just about everyone is gonna feel this.

yeah, i guess that is just the risk you take and eventually time just runs out .. i saw an aerial photo of the acreage that will be flooded and there really is a lot of agricultural development that will take a hit .. guess it is kind of a "land giveth and land taketh away" scenario ..

Hwy 84 not flooding unless a levée breaks

quote:

---

If that quote is true, we just hit a whole new realm of "oh frick"

---

Holy shite! Has this been verified?

The Mississippi River levee system throughout Concordia Parish will be shut down to all vehicular traffic as of 6 p.m. Sunday, according to Sheriff Randy Maxwell.

Maxwell said the La. 5th District Levee Board made that decision early today (Saturday, 5-7-11).
"All levee traffic will be shut down completely," Maxwell stated. "This includes owners of camps, commercial fishermen -- everyone." He added that the order from the Levee Board additionally calls for all vehicles to be removed from the Mississippi River levee system.

Maxwell said that the Concordia Parish Sheriff's Office boat patrols of the Minorca and Deer Park areas will begin today

LINK

My family has a camp in Bayou Pigeon on Grand River. It is outside of the spillway levee but sits on the bank of Grand River. Can anyone tell me where to find info on expected impact of the flood outside of the basin's protection levees?
I see Belle River and Stephensville are being asked to self evacuate.

LINK
Residents of Stephensville/Belle River Area Urged to Self-Evacuate


The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office is urging residents in the Stephensville-Belle River area to self-evacuate. This is due to the impending high water levels expected from the rising Mississippi and Atachafalaya Rivers. All valuables should be moved to higher ground prior to evacuation. All water, gas, and electricity should be shut off at the main source. The Sheriff's Department is urging residents to make provisions for animals and pets. Those that do decide to evacuate are encouraged to leave early and to take photographs of any property left behind. They are also urged to take all insurance policies they may have.

A public meeting regarding the potential flooding issues for Stephensville and Belle River will be held Monday night at 6:30 P.M. at Stephensville Elementary School. St. Martin Parish Government Officials will be present to discuss preventative measures.

For more information, visit www.stmartinohsep.org.