Posted on April 25, 2025
Daily levee inspections expand from Baton Rouge to Venice; construction waivers suspended
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – With the Mississippi River projected to rise above 15 feet at the Carrollton Gage on Tuesday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, has activated Phase II of its flood fight procedures.
The Corps says it will begin daily levee inspections from Baton Rouge to Venice in coordination with local levee authorities. The heightened monitoring aims to quickly identify and respond to any potential weak points in the levee system caused by elevated river levels.
“All waivers for subsurface construction within 1,500 feet of the levees are now suspended,” the Corps said in a statement.
Subsurface work had already been restricted since April 14 when the river rose above 11 feet at the Carrollton Gage, triggering Phase I flood fight protocols.
This marks the third activation of flood fight procedures this season. Phase I began on Feb. 24, was paused March 13, and resumed April 14 as the river once again surpassed 11 feet.
Under Phase II, inspections intensify and cover a broader area to ensure the integrity of the flood protection system along the lower Mississippi River corridor.
The National Weather Service currently forecasts the Mississippi River to crest at 16.9 feet on May 1 before beginning to fall.
