Due to significant rain and snowmelt along its basin, the Mississippi River has continued to rise and could potentially reach a level that could trigger the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway for the first time since 2020.
On April 14, the National Weather Service noted the water level at the Carrolton Gage at 11.66 feet and that by its latest projections foresaw the river cresting April 25 at 16.5 feet and the river to reach a flow of 1.25 million cubic feet per second – both reaching the benchmarks that would usually trigger the opening of the spillway.
2019 marked the first time ever that the structure was opened twice in one calendar year. The impetus was the breaking of a record that stood for 92 years for the length of a Mississippi River flood stage. Record breaking rains in the eastern U.S. and fall storms were to blame for the extended flood stage that lasted into the summer.
The impetus for that was the breaking of a record that stood for 92 years for the length of a Mississippi River flood stage. Record breaking rains in the eastern U.S. and fall storms were to blame for an extended flood stage that lasted into the summer.
In 2020, it opened for just the 15th time since 1937. The frequency has increased significantly, however, with that 2020 opening representing the fifth time it opened from 2016 to 2020.The past five years have brought relief in that area, with no openings since then.
The purpose of the spillway opening is to divert excess water from the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain, preventing levees in New Orleans and other downstream communities from being subjected to damaging stress from high water.
