Posted on March 10, 2022
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says that the Mississippi River at the Carrollton Gage in New Orleans has risen above 11 feet, prompting the New Orleans Engineer District to activate Phase I flood fight procedures.
Closely coordinating efforts with the local levee authorities, the New Orleans District will begin patrolling levees along the Mississippi River twice weekly until the water level drops below 11 feet at the Carrollton Gage.
Phase I is a proactive measure that is triggered when the Mississippi River reaches 11 feet and is forecast to continue to rise. The Corps says the increased patrols help ensure its ability to respond quickly to any problem areas that may develop along the levee system because of the elevated water levels.
The current water level at the Carrollton Gage is 11.5 feet. The National Weather Service’s latest forecast shows the river cresting at 12.1 feet March 14 for several days before starting to fall.
LEVEE RESTRICTIONS DURING HIGH WATER
The Corps and state of Louisiana have established distances for certain types of work that can adversely affect the integrity of the federal levees and structures.
All work that may impact Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) levees, which includes transport of heavy loads over the levee, disturbance of grass cover, or subsurface work within 1,500 feet of the levee, is prohibited when the Mississippi River elevation reaches 11 feet and rising at the Carrollton Gage in New Orleans. Waivers are considered on a case-by-case basis and are dependent on many circumstances, including surrounding subsurface ground conditions.
