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-   -   BONNET CARRIE SPILLWAY opens this morning / how are YOU doing? (https://blackandgold.com/ee/33545-bonnet-carrie-spillway-opens-morning-how-you-doing.html)

skymike 05-09-2011 07:42 AM

BONNET CARRIE SPILLWAY opens this morning / how are YOU doing?
 
So I hear they're opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway this morning at 8am. Apparently, this is a pretty cool sight, as media and the public is invited to view. This thing fascinates me. In fact Louisiana water/flood control fascinates me.

If you dont know about this, you might find fascinating also:

-- This is only the 9th time the Bonnet Carre has been opened, since 1937. A fairly rare event-- to avoid overburdening the levees around N.O.

-- The Bonnet Carre Spillway is about ? what, you tell me, about 1 mile wide? Its normally just a piece of government land between the Mississippi R. and Lake Ponchatrain, that happens to have this massive, but not very tall, long series of floodgates over it.

--99% of the time people hunt, fish, train dogs, crawfish, ride 4-wheelers, and just do basic redneck stuff there, because the govt. says its open to everybody who wants to play in it. -- so long as it's not being flooded.

-- They have to use a crane thing to open the gates.

-- Its really cool to watch it being opened.

-- After they close the gates again, and the land starts to dry, the crawfishing is off the charts.

I hear it opens at 8am this morning.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Now, on the topic of MS. River flooding:

-- unfortunately, in my opinion, theyre also forced to open the Morganza Spillway upriver of Baton Rouge.

-- This means the Atchafalaya Basin will get a massive amount of extra water.

-- I'm guessing a lot of people in the Basin are not happy with this. I dont know if it threatens their homes, but I know at the least, camphouses are going to be gone. Im guessing this means a major water event all the way down to Morgan City?

-- The Morganza Spillway hasnt been opened in 40 years. Does anyone else wonder if everything will work right, or if something has rusted, and will malfunction?

So how are you affected? Is there anyone here close enough to the Mississippi to be worried. Or is anyone here in the Basin? Whats going on?

SmashMouth 05-09-2011 07:54 AM

My wife and I ran a couple of races there over the years .... and I think there is an adventure race there now also ... guess there'll be more swimming events now for a while?

If someone has pics, that could be cool if they could be posted for us WhoDats to see from afar.

skymike 05-09-2011 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmashMouth (Post 298932)
My wife and I ran a couple of races there over the years .... and I think there is an adventure race there now also ... guess there'll be more swimming events now for a while?

If someone has pics, that could be cool if they could be posted for us WhoDats to see from afar.

wow I didnt know that, Smash. thanks. Leave it to you to tell about something interesting.

yeah, anyone got pics of the spillway?

Srgt. Hulka 05-09-2011 09:33 AM

Mike, this Mississippi River flooding is very VERY serious! I don’t know about the southern half of Louisiana, but up north could see a flood like no one has seen since 1927. If the levies fail up near Vicksburg, You could see floodwater from the Mississippi River all the way to Monroe. Anyone east of Monroe could go under water. I have in-laws that live just north of Columbia, and they are already getting things together, and they live 60 miles, as the crow flies, from the Mississippi River. I told them to photograph everything they have and mail me the camera.

I used to have a next-door neighbor that grew up in Monroe. He was 92 years old in 1995. He remembered the flood of 1927. He told me that you could drive a boat from Monroe all the way to Vicksburg. And this flood is supposed to be worse than that. This is serious! If you have family in East Louisiana, tell them to please pay close attention to this.

You were talking about the Atchafalaya Basin. I heard on the radio this morning that they are expecting the water to be so high that it will be touching the bottom of the structure on the I-10 causeway over the Atchafalaya River and Basin. That is serious. I know there are a lot of people that live in that basin area. I will pray for them.

My point is: Take this seriously. Don’t let your guard down, and please be prepared. I’m afraid it’s going to be bad.

foreverfan 05-09-2011 10:23 AM

Bonnet Carre Spillway Is Open - WWL - AM870

Srgt. Hulka 05-09-2011 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strato (Post 298974)
Man Hulk..i hope this doesnt happen...ive been keeping up with it..Memphis is in deep ****...love that town ..hope it doesnt flood out..

You and me both Strat. I'm hoping it's just media sensationalism and it doesn't get as bad here in Louisiana as they are saying, but with this kind of stuff, you can't take the chance. This could be like Katrina. People have had more than a week of being told it's coming. I just hope people are doing somthing to help themselves. I have a brother-in-law that works for the highway department in Richland Parish. He is on 24 hour call in case he is needed to help direct people out of the parish.

skymike 05-09-2011 07:05 PM

I dont think it is sensationalism, Hulka, in fact, I think much of the media is falling asleep on this one. I might be the only news guy in Houston that grasps or even seems to care what happens to the Atchafalaya Basin, East La, and MS. God forbid a levee fails, but I think if one does right now, its gonna catch most newsdesks off guard, in this neck of the woods. Its like my colleagues are watching Dancing w. the Stars or something.

My prayers are with those of you in the Basin, and along all the levees, and as always with New Orleans, too. I do know that without opening the Morganza, the River along the CBD is supposed reach 19.5. And the levee holds 20ft. Plus they had to stop the reinforcement on the Algiers side, so the last thing we need between now and June is a tropical storm.

I dont think we're being alarmist here, in fact, I think many of us outside the MS Valley, River Parishes, and Atch. Basin are falling asleep. Thanks for the tipoff, Hulka. I will continue to give voice to this situation around here.

Srgt. Hulka 05-09-2011 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 299030)
Thanks for the tipoff, Hulka. I will continue to give voice to this situation around here.

Thanks Mike. I hope the worst doesn't come to pass, but if it does, these people are going to need all the help they can get.

YeahYouRight 05-10-2011 06:18 AM

If the Morganza opens, and there is a major malfunction (numbnuts), then we may not have to worry about the Bonnet Carre because the river may finally accomplish what it's been trying to do for quite a while now, which is take over the Atch Basin.

skymike 05-10-2011 06:35 AM

thats true.

did he just call me numbnuts?

SmashMouth 05-10-2011 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 299117)
thats true.

did he just call me numbnuts?

Not sure .... meanwhile ... some actual pictures!

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...5-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...3-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...0-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...8-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...6-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...4-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...1-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...8-standard.jpg

http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...4-standard.jpg



http://media.nola.com/tpphotos/photo...7-standard.jpg

More where they come from ...

Bonnet Carre Spillway opens as Mississippi River swells | NOLA.com

YeahYouRight 05-10-2011 07:57 PM

Not calling anybody here numbnuts, just figured it was an apropos term anytime the ACE was brought up. :)

foreverfan 05-11-2011 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 299117)
thats true.

did he just call me numbnuts?

Funny... Isn't that what your second wife call you?

http://www.cookingwithleo.com/oyster%20po%20boy.JPG

skymike 05-11-2011 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by foreverfan (Post 299327)
Funny... Isn't that what your second wife call you?

I wish to high heaven my nuts were numb, where my 2nd wife is concerned. I'm still paying that b*t*h.

And btw, you've PO'd me royally with that oyster po boy picture. Now I'm hungry, no thanks to you. really hungry. not to mention homesick for my other home, New Orleans. oysters!

skymike 05-11-2011 08:36 AM

Great pictures, FF. Now I know more. The spillway uses cross tie looking pieces to literally hold the water. Thats crazy. And do you think those 5 guys in the picture realize how important they are? These 5 guys control the fate of 1/3 of the U.S. water drainage. They're changing the flow of the river, affecting all these cities and farms.

I sure hope it works, and I hope they dont have to open Morganza.

Memphis destruction already estimated at 320 million.

SmashMouth 05-11-2011 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 299337)
Great pictures, Smash. Now I know more. The spillway uses cross tie looking pieces to literally hold the water. Thats crazy. And do you think those 5 guys in the picture realize how important they are? These 5 guys control the fate of 1/3 of the U.S. water drainage. They're changing the flow of the river, affecting all these cities and farms.

I sure hope it works, and I hope they dont have to open Morganza.

Memphis destruction already estimated at 320 million.

Fixed it for ya.... gotta give credit to the actual picture poster after all.... lol ...

Dey don't have oyster poboys in Houston?

foreverfan 05-11-2011 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 299336)
And btw, you've PO'd me royally with that oyster po boy picture. Now I'm hungry, no thanks to you. really hungry. not to mention homesick for my other home, New Orleans. oysters!

No need thanking me Mike... Just finished off a big shrimp poboy from the Amce Oyster House for lunch. :D
So what are you sayin? I should have got the oysters? :confused:



The Morganza Spilway is to insure that Baton Rouge and lands between the Bonne Carre Spillway don't flood. The Bonne Carre Spillway will more then take care of New Orleans since it is about 3 times the river width. They open the BCS about every 8 years. It's no big deal since it doesn't do anything but flush out the lake with fresh water and produce a giant alge bloom and fish kill.

Still, the lake bounces back quickly and is usually better than before.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-tluutf_F7...rimp_poboy.jpg

skymike 05-11-2011 05:14 PM

ah, great pics, Smash.

hope everybody's doing ok.

skymike 05-13-2011 05:41 AM

My word. theyre opening the Morganza. Those poor folks in the Basin.

foreverfan 05-13-2011 07:32 AM

Last open in 1973. It floods a giant area. People knew they were building on a flood plain.

Srgt. Hulka 05-13-2011 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 299703)
My word. theyre opening the Morganza. Those poor folks in the Basin.


Corps of Engineers Flood Inundation Map

In partnership with state and local leaders, the Corps has developed an Inundation Map to depict anticipated impacts from operation of the Morganza Floodway. As floodwaters progress through the Morganza Floodway to the Gulf of Mexico, the height of the water could reach between five (5) and upwards of twenty-five (25) feet above ground elevation, causing widespread flooding and inundation.

Corps of Engineers Flood Inundation Map | Baton Rouge News


http://www.batonrougetoday.com/wp-co...dation_map.jpg

skymike 05-13-2011 09:26 AM

man, thats unreal. Thanks Hulka for bringing out something I couldnt find anywhere else.

SmashMouth 05-13-2011 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strato (Post 299722)
Dam this reminds me of the flood of the early 1900s....that was horrible.


Events

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi..._Flood_Map.jpghttp://bits.wikimedia.org/skins-1.17...gnify-clip.png
Mississippi River Flood of 1927 showing flooded areas and relief operations

I never realized you were that much of an old fart.... that would make you over 100. What's your secret? :mrgreen:

foreverfan 05-13-2011 01:40 PM

What Failure of the Morganza Spillway Would Mean To La. Life As We Know It
by Steve Wilkerson on Tuesday, May 10, 2011 at 2:18am

The Morganza Spillway flood control structure in Pointe Coupee Parish could open as early as Saturday but it could be delayed until Tuesday, May 17, depending on conditions, the Mississippi River Commission president said Monday. “If we operate Morganza, there won’t be overtopping. If we don’t operate Morganza … about three miles south of Baton Rouge, we will have significant overtopping there. LSU and a couple of other significant infrastructure would be inundated,” said U.S. Army Maj. General Michael Walsh of the Army Corps of Engineers.[1]

The Morganza Spillway was opened for the first and only time in 1973 to relieve pressure from the Old River Control Structure (ORCS). [2][3] The spillway received minor scouring and slight damage to the stilling basin. After the 1973 flood, the structure was restored to its original condition.

In 2008, a flood caused portions of the levee at the spillway to deteriorate and sent floodwaters into cropland located within the floodway. It is because of this damage to the levées around the spillway and the extent to which the structure itself was undermined by just the '73 test that the Morganza Spillway has never been opened since, though it would have been useful during several subsequent years to relieve pressure on the Old River Control Structure.

Studies by the Army Corps of Engineers after the test determined that once opened, it would likely never close again, and could be ripped from its footings, allowing the Mississippi River to jump its banks and flow primarily through the Atchafalaya Basin.

While this would leave New Orleans, Baton Rouge, and the Port of New Orleans practically high and dry, the Atchafalaya Basin would become the the main artery of the Mississippi River below Morganza and several cities along the bucolic Atchafalaya River would be flooded and a new delta would begin forming immediately. The failure of the Morganza structure would be disastrous beyond imagination for the residents of south Louisiana and international commerce

skymike 05-13-2011 04:16 PM

I dont think the average person realizes what Louisiana is up against right now. And of course, Miss River commerce will impact the entire nation.

SmashMouth 05-13-2011 04:39 PM

Morganza Spillway update in a vid

skymike 05-13-2011 04:51 PM

(Hey Smash, I tried to call you while ago, return your call. good to hear from you brother. And yeah... we're boiling bugs again. Will shout at ya
later, I have 2 gigs to get ready for, and Im on the air. )

Thanks for the update.

FF, thats just unbelievable.

foreverfan 05-13-2011 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skymike (Post 299788)
FF, thats just unbelievable.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strato (Post 299755)
The goverment shafted them...very simular to this situation..

Think that's bad...

I went to Acme Oyster house today to get an oyster poboy and they were $16.50 for a regular poboy.
Needless to say I had to get the Shrimp for $9.95.

I blame Obama. :doh:

YeahYouRight 05-17-2011 10:02 AM

I just drove out to the Butterfly (for those not in New Orleans, it's a riverside park) and looked at the river... it is HIGH. At least 10 feet above where it usually is, and my guess was that it is moving about 15 miles an hour as opposed to its usual four.... if that's anywhere close to correct it would mean there's about 5 times as much water just flowing through N.O. as you see on a typical day. Kind of scary for those of us who live here.

skymike 05-18-2011 07:25 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Quote:

Originally Posted by YeahYouRight (Post 300334)
I just drove out to the Butterfly (for those not in New Orleans, it's a riverside park) and looked at the river... it is HIGH. At least 10 feet above where it usually is, and my guess was that it is moving about 15 miles an hour as opposed to its usual four.... if that's anywhere close to correct it would mean there's about 5 times as much water just flowing through N.O. as you see on a typical day. Kind of scary for those of us who live here.

Im scared for you, dude. I saw this picture: (attached)

I know how high that levee is, and how far over street level the river is, and how much rock should be showing. freaky. You guys, along with those in the Basin are in our prayers.


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