If water levels in the Mississippi River rise to 17 feet on May 17, as predicted by National Weather Service hydrologists, then the Bonnet Carre Spillway could be opened up for the first time since 2008.
Water levels are currently at 12 feet, according to Mike Stack Jr., chief of emergency operations at the Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District.
Stack said that the water levels and levees are being monitored twice a week, but that they will be monitored every day once the water reaches 15 feet.
The sudden rise in the river is mainly due to a huge rain system moving through the middle of the country, Stack said.
“This is not a normal event. The rain event is larger than any average event we would have,” Stack said. “The spillway on average would not get opened…but it looks like with the amount of water coming down, we’re going to quickly prepare (in case it needs to be opened).”
The spillway underwent an operational test on April 5 and Chris Brantley, project manager at the spillway, said that everything went smoothly.
“We’re prepared if the decision is made to open the spillway,” Brantley said.
Stack said that consideration to open the spillway will not happen until the river flow reaches 1.25 million cubic feet per second of water. If the flow is predicted to increase to that amount then stakeholders, environmental groups, levee districts and more will be asked for input before the corps makes its recommendation to the Mississippi River Commission on whether or not to open the spillway.
It would take 10 days to prepare for an opening once the decision is made.
The last time the spillway was opened was in 2008 from April 11 through May 8 when the river crested at 16.69 feet.
While opening the spillway would mean the shutdown of Spillway Road and parish recreational facilities, like boat launches and riding trails, the news would not be all bad.
Brantley said that an infusion of river water would be good for the environment in the spillway.
“Additional sediments and nutrients from the Mississippi River would help feed the ecosystem in the spillway,” Brantley said. “It would be a good year for crawfish if the water comes in at the right time and ponds would be replenished.
“It would jumpstart the whole ecosystem.”
However, in 2008 the opening destroyed 28 areas of Spillway Road and it took about six months to complete the almost $500,000 in repairs.
Brantley said that while no damage is anticipated if the spillway is opened this year, the area will be assessed and cleaned of sediments upon reclosing.
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