Morganza Spillway likely to open; Move could push river above 9 feet here

The decision isn’t final. But the commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the Corps is leaning toward opening the Morganza Spillway beginning Monday, which could bring the Atchalafaya River to levels that will flood structures inside the flood wall in the Morgan City area.
Col. Richard Hansen, the commander for the Corps’ New Orleans District, said at a public meeting today at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium that the usual triggers for a decision to open Morganza are predictions for a flow rate of 1.5 million cubic feet per second and an elevation of 57 feet on the Mississippi at the Old River Flood Control Structure. The spillway is used to reduce flooding on the Mississippi.
But the opening anticipated beginning Monday could raise the crest from the expected 8.5 feet — a lower crest forecast than had been issued earlier — back to 9.2 feet. A total of 14 gates will be opened over the course of days, Hansen said.
New weather predictions could lead to a decision not to open the spillway, the officials said.
The Atchafalaya River at Morgan City was a shade below the 6-foot flood stage today. Mike Stack, the chief of emergency management for the Corps’ New Orleans District, said the river could stay above the 6-foot level for a month.
According to the Weather Service:
—At stages near 6.0 feet, the city dock will be under water. Water will cover the lower end of Belleview Front Street in Berwick. Vessel traffic will be affected by stronger river current and vessel traffic safety rules will be strictly enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard.
—At stages near 7.0 feet, buildings at the foot of Ann Street on the river side of the flood wall will flood as water overtops the Rio Oil Co. dock. Buildings on the river side of the Berwick floodwall will flood. River traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced.
—At stages near 9.0 feet, structures on the river side of protection walls in Morgan City and Berwick will be under water. River traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced.
After a similar meeting Wednesday in Morganza, U.S. Rep. Garrett Graves, R-Baton Rouge, used social media to announce that the spillway would be closing starting Monday.
But the Corps maintains that no official decision has been made.
Preparations are already underway for sinking the barge that closes Bayou Chene, affecting the Amelia, Lower St. Martin and Terrebonne areas. That closure could come in about two weeks.