Floodgate Opening on Mississippi Pumps 10,000 Cubic Feet of Water Per Second
- Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:28pm by
Scott Baker
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In a historic action designed to minimize the risk of catastrophic flooding in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the Army Corps of Engineers has begun opening the Morganza Floodway to divert water from the rain-swollen Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya basin.
The second-ever opening of the nearly 60-year-old structure 186 miles upriver of New Orleans began at 3 p.m. sharp, when a crane lifted a gate covering one of the spillway structure’s 125 bays, releasing a gusher of about 10,000 cubic feet of water per second into the floodway. A live video feed of the procedure is being streamed online by the corps.
More of the 28-foot-wide bays will be opened in the coming days to gradually increase the flow rate to about 125,000 cubic feet per second, corps officials said.
About 25,000 people and 11,000 structures are in harm’s way, as up to 25 feet of flooding is expected in a 3,000 square-mile area of Cajun country stretching from Melville to Morgan City.
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Comments (86)
JumpOut266
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:21pmSome of you are missing the big picture. If they open the spillways, the flooding can be predicted, and people evacuated in plenty of time to prevent loss of life. If the spillways are not opened, the levees could crack anywhere with no way to predict where. This way you can get people out of harms way, and make preparations to mitigate the damage. The corps has been preparing for this for two weeks. If I’m not mistaken, something similar was done upriver except they had no spillway, they just blew up the levees with explosives.
Report Post »cajuntiger
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 9:08am@jumpout,
Report Post »yep, you are right…..they are opening the spillway at partial capacity (as of Sat afternoon), and had discussed it for days. This gives the residents (and wildlife) in the areas projected to flood time to evacuate. Right now, our local news estimates about 25,000 people will be affected by the opening of the Morganza Spillway. What is still unsure is if this relief will prevent breach of the levees along the river from BR to NO…..opening the spillway is only expected to drop the river level 2 feet here (according to local news reports) and the river will not crest for several more days. But they are trying to keep the water out of the major cities, colleges, and businesses that operate beside the river. Its just an awful situation for everyone along the mighty Mississippi.
LiveNation
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:09pmSo why is there so much water this year? Was there an abnormally high snowfall this winter? I don’t recall the mid-west getting more than usual.
Report Post »cajuntiger
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:15pmI’m in Baton Rouge….the river is incredibly high! I feel horrible for everyone in danger of flooding, and that still very well may include us ….They opened the Spillways (Bonnet Carre and Morganza) to relieve pressure on levees, hoping to prevent breaches. Time will tell if it will, in fact, work….the levees are still under tremendous pressure, and the river has yet to crest here. Hopefully, industry along the river, and boat traffic, can continue, for the benefit of all of La. I’d ask you all to pray for Louisiana…we’ve had our share of troubles the last few years with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and the oil spill….Thanks so much.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:41pmWe halready have a cries here in Oklajhoma. We will do good to get one cutting of hay. The ground temperature is still below 70 decrees and it just isn’t growing. I have only mowed my yard once and everyone is selling there cows or having to buy hay.
Report Post »OLDEMTNOH
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:38pmnotice when they opened the gate that a asian carp was seen jumping. wouldn’t be nice if they could round em all up and use them for fertilizer when the river recedes
Report Post »flsnipe
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:18pmWhats going to happen when all that farmland isn’t planted in time I see a crises!
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 10:20pmAnd we “Never want to let a crisis go to waste”!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »It will be interessting to see how Obozo tries to make hay out of this disaster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He will probably start by denying disaster funds to the region !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
seeker9
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 12:09amWell, let’s see. We have Mary Landreiu (D,La). She wants to keep oil company tax subs. I smell a buyoff in the future. She did manage $300M, if I recall correctly, for her health care vote.
Report Post »turkey13
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:12pmNext winter the government needs to conviscate all the open top railcars and move them to yankee land. Hire the unemplyed to load them with snow and send them to the desert and dump. We then can use the water to water the desert and grow corn. This way we can burn it in cars and use for food. Then we won’t have to worry about all the flooding. We had 10″‘s of snow in S. Oklahoma. Tonight it‘s going to be low 40’s here. This global warming is doing me in.
Report Post »5410amh
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:42pmThat’s coming out quick. I mean look at how fast it’s filling up that depression in the ground.
Report Post »woodyb
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:27pmNEWS FLASH!!!!!!!!!!!
The spillway doesn’t “PUMP’ anything — it is called gravity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:07pmYou are right. I skimmed the headline so fast, I didn’t even see “pump”.
Report Post »Liberalismsamentaldisorder
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:25pmIt’s a tough call obviously, but how do you suppose all those people who’ve now lost everything due to the fact that the government has decided that people living someplace else are more deserving of protection?
Report Post »CatherineAnn
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:25pmI can hear Gore now….global warming. I told you so and it is Bush’s fault too. Somehow. It is still being made up as you read this, facts will follow soon!
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:19pmAll I know is that was a bunch of water.
Report Post »zoose
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:57pmThey are trying to save the big cities where all the black people live.
Who cares about the white farmers who won’t be able to plant a crop this year.They don’t.
Now before you flame me as a racist I have several intelligent educated black friends.
They are doing this and who are they? The government.
Report Post »They can’t have another New Orleans event like Katrina.
cajuntiger
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 10:09amwow, zoose…..Louisiana has black and white people living all over the state, in rural and urban areas. We all benefit when the state as a whole does well. As I said in other posts, I think the government officials are trying to do their best, in a terribly difficult situation, to protect the industries, colleges, and cities along river, as well as keep river traffic moving. This benefits the entire state. Here in BR we are hoping and praying for the best for everyone involved in the flooding this year.
Report Post »Whostolemypig
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:48pmInteresting that they are redirecting the water through Cajun country. It’s typical of how we do things. We fail to prepare for the worst case, not building adequate dikes in Baton Rouge and New Orleans, then to save those people we reroute the water and destroy the lives of someone else.
All that sounds a lot like our economy. We take care of whims and desires by spending borrowed money, then we expect the grandkids to pay for it.
Report Post »cajuntiger
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 9:23amwho, BR normally does not have this problem….our levee is huge, and does a great job of protecting our city. We aren’t below sea level like NO. This is the first time since 1973 that the Morganza Spillway has been opened….Unfortunately this is a horrific year for flooding, and not just for Louisiana.
Report Post »nosycophant
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:40pmal gore and his weather machine.
Report Post »Sam Brown
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:33pmBetter ask yourselves how much farm land and crops this will destroy. It may be a hungry winter.
Sam
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:48pmYes, it seems like up and down the river we decided to save stuff and destroy food crops. Hope in hindsight we made good choices.
Report Post »Lana40
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 2:02amFood prices are going to be horrible this year. Praying my garden does VERY well this year. Already eating fresh potatoes. Nothing better. :)
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:29pmI think Obummer flunked weather in college
My prayers go to Texas and the Mississippi Delta
Nashville TN floooded last year and NOT nary a word from Obummer
Report Post »Probably playing golf this weekend and patting himself on the back for his “endzone” dance this last week
Frankly I am amazed I got my tax refund back
Thought I might get a letter how I need to redistribute my money to the area in Chicago that BO organized….
Ampleforth
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 8:56amWe had massive flooding in Kentucky this year, and all we get is Obama’s continuous touchdown dance at Fort Campbell. He was less than 100 miles away from the worst flooding, and they didn’t even do a fly-over. It’s President Ickey Woods (I noted that he’s doing a perpetual Ickey Shuffle before Saturday Night Live used it).
There was no way he was going to call attention to the flooding because the decision to flood Southeast Missouri to save Cairo, Illinois, was a terribly unpopular decision.
Report Post »JGraham III
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:05pmNot to make light of the plight these people find themselves in, but I am thankful to live in the Northwest. We generally don’t have floods of this magnitude nor do we suffer from tornadoes or blizzards. We just have to contend with an occasional earthquake sometimes accompanied by a volcanic eruption.
Report Post »Black Manta
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:25pmYes neither is Rome known for earthquakes…For nations shall rise against nations, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places..Matt 24:7..Great death trough out the whole world is coming..Believe in Christ…
Report Post »SlimnRanger
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:04pmWe all should be praying for the people close to the mighty Mississippi
Report Post »Black Manta
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:17pmI agree..We are verliy in the last days and these are the times to pray for one another..
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:01pmIh the floods would just wash Texas away, they want to seceede anyway, then it would be a bonus. Think of all the taxes we would save not bailing out their repube butts every year.
Report Post »Liberalismsamentaldisorder
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:28pmPlease explain when Texas has been bailed out? Perhaps I missed that.
Report Post »Bob_R_OathKeeper
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:30pmExrepublisheep – I bet you ******** to Obama’s picture, maybe you’ll get your wish some day and Obama will let you go down on him like Larry Sinclare did.
Report Post »DADA
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 12:14amYes perhaps the bulk of the US capacity to refine oil to gasoline should be destroyed by floods to make the libturds happy. Great thinking. Then your gasoline would take an even greater bite out of your welfare checks.
Report Post »Lana40
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 1:59amExrepublisheep…..How do you like those high gas prices? It’d be even more if Texas flooded. Liberals haven’t got a clue.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 10:35amWhat a moronic post. Of all of the States that look like they are going to need bailing out California and Illinois are the two most often mentioned. Most of the time when Texas’s name comes up it is to mention all of the businesses that are leaving California to move to Texas. Idiot.
Report Post »Former Patriot
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 10:50amI’m not Texan, but they aren’t alone. A tornado tore through my town just before tax day. No federal help for us, although no one here wants anything to do with this government. We did get a notice that stated if you are unable to file and pay on time due to damage you can apply for an extension, and reminding us to ensure our taxes are paid.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:59pmGod bless and keep those who are suffering in these floods. My heart aways hurts for those in disaster areas, I can’t imagine their pain.
Report Post »silentwatcher
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:51pmIs this more of the “sharing of wealth?” sacrifice the homes downriver to save some upstream? What’s the point of constructing the dam/levee if you’re going to tear them down when you have a flood. Maybe I’m not seeing the whole picture……..just saying.
BTW,,,,,I do feel very badly for all families involved.
Report Post »Boson Higgs
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:00pm“HE” did NOT say, “Share the wealth.” He actually said, “Spread the wealth around.”
Report Post »That means spread it all around the World, not just the U.S.
seeker9
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:16pmThe flood control structures protect against normal floods. This is a record setting event. The structures also have kept the river from permanently changing course to insure it stays navigable.
Report Post »seeker9
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:54pmWith the gates in place, the river keeps it’s normal course. Opening the gates takes psrt of the river and diverts it into an alternate floodway.
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:25pmSeeker9:
Report Post »“With the gates in place, the river keeps it’s normal course. Opening the gates takes part of the river and diverts it into an alternate floodway.”
Yes, except that, as you pointed out above, the river’s normal course is to wander all over the map, creatinge a broad floodplain. The alternate floodway is as much its normal course as is the narrow levee-confined channel that takes it past NewOrleans.
seeker9
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:14pmLloyd Drako
Can’t disagree with you. Who’s to say what “normal” is. Man keeps the river from changing course, but that means we loose the wetlands Mother nature will eventually win no matter what man does.
Report Post »cajuntiger
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 9:17amThis isn’t tearing down of our levees…..The river is so high that it the pressure on the levees could cause them to fail, or when it finally does crest, it may overtop the levees. The Morganza Spillway can be opened and that land be flooded to relieve some of the pressure on the levees. This hasn’t been necessary since 1973.
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:41pmI think the New Madrid faultline (earthquake prone) is around the Mississippi River also and hearing predictions that it may happen in the near future also…..big one. That’s not to mention the “big one” that’s supposed to happen in CA…..I wonder if anyone who is in authority is checking and making sure we have plenty of disaster funds?
Report Post »momprayn
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:47pmNever mind – I forgot, with this Admin. you don’t have to worry about helping the red states…like mine (Texas).
Report Post »APatriotFirst
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:53pmDistaster funds only go to Obama friendly states now.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:59pmYes .. if FL or Texas get hurricanes we are so on our own.
Report Post »pattybbb1
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 9:18pmNow, that really isn’t true. I don‘t know why Texas was denied funds but Alabama was ok’ed to receive funds after the April 27 Outbreak. We are definitely a red state now. Landslide last Nov 10 elections.
Report Post »Salamander
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 12:01amThere’s plenty–they aren‘t ’wasting’ any on Texas fires and Virginia tornadoes!
Report Post »Lana40
Posted on May 15, 2011 at 1:55amThe only time Alabama has went ‘blue’ was for Carter. The Southern Guy. Our most embarrassing regret.Why Obama immediately released funds is beyond me. We HATE the man!!!!
Report Post »eflow504
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:37pmi live a block away from the mississippi river down here in louisiana by new orleans. the water is high, but i have seen it higher.
Report Post »elk043004
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:44pmTrust you will remain dry, however Mother Nature can not be controlled.
Report Post »eflow504
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 11:15pmyou right i just stay out of her way.
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:34pmThat river is scary high.
Report Post »Ookspay
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:37pmThank’s to Governor Perry and his prayers for rain, we now have this.
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:51pmSome how, some way, we all know this is Bush’s fault too!
Report Post »CatB
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 6:52pmI live on the Gulf of Mexico … and I was just thinking .. do you think that this is going to help clean up the gulf? I mean all this water is going to eventually go where the oil did isn’t it?
Report Post »Creestof
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:26pmWell, the rain was a fallin,
and the ground turned to mud.
I was a watchin’ all the people,
runnin’ from the flood.
So, I ah started to pray’n,
though I ain‘t no pray’n man.
For the Lord to come a-helpin’,
Knowin‘ he’d understand.
Well deliver your people to the good, good life,
Report Post »giv’em peace and shelter an a fork an knife.
Shine a light in the mornin’ an a light at night,
an if a thing goes wrong…you better make it right.
seeker9
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:30pmDon’t know about the oil, but it may restore some of La’s coastal wetlands with the sediments and silt.
Report Post »D0ntTread0nMe
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:30pmThat is some awesome technology!!! Just goes to show America always does it best!
Report Post »http://www.mythoughtsfromthemiddle.blogspot.com
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:50pmIndeed.
How long until they blame this one on Bush as well?
Assuming they already have not done so.
Report Post »mrclean
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 7:55pmWell, we had massive tornado week (last week in April) and now we have the muddy Missippi once again showing its power. Here in Missouri we had tornadoes dropping all around us for a week, very scary stuff. But river floods are really horrid. The water is filthy and smelly, you can never get your house back to normal, if you still have one that’s habitable, and everything in your life is destroyed right before your eyes.
Be thankful and grateful if you are not subject to these two terrible phenomena of nature. I also lived in hurricane alley for 25 years, but with that you have plenty of warning and can usually survive intact unless it’s a category 4 or 5. Tornadoes are by far the most frightening for me.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:18pmand we flood more farmland to save the cities, but it will ultimately be the demise of all, no food…LOL, the perfect storm has arrived!
Report Post »Lloyd Drako
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:21pmSeeker9:
Report Post »You are right, the river is now flowing where it has “wanted” to flow for years. The Corps of Engineers has prevented it from doing so in order to protect the shipping channels leading up past New Orleans. The river has just been sluicing out to sea, carving a huge canyon in the floor of the Gulf and, as you point out, starving the wetlands, which will now get a temporary replenishing.
stifroc
Posted on May 14, 2011 at 8:28pmObama is blasting the levies to intentionally flood all of the white neighborhoods!!!!
Report Post »RugerHoyt
Posted on May 16, 2011 at 10:32amIt might be a crappy situation, but make the most out of it. Grab your bow and waders and take out a few carp and gar!
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