Mississippi rises; flood warning for Atchafalaya

The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to test the historic Bonnet Carre Spillway this week.
At Morgan City, meanwhile, a flood warning is in effect for the Atchafalaya. Only nominal flooding is expected.
Flood stage for the Atchafalaya at Morgan City is 6 feet. The river was at 5.9 feet Sunday night and is expected to reach flood level early this afternoon.
At that level, water may cover the end of Belleview Front Street in Berwick and create stronger than usual currents.
On the Mississippi, the corps and other flood-fighting agencies are on alert due to high water levels.
On Wednesday, crews will practice removing and replacing large crane-hoisted wooden needles in the Bonnet Carre Spillway. The spillway pours river waters into Lake Pontchartrain.
Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett said the exercise will prepare new workers to the system’s operations.
The Bonnet Carre is important in the strategy to keep New Orleans from flooding. The spillway, though, is used rarely; the last time in 2011.
For now, the corps says it does not anticipate opening the spillway this spring — based on current river forecasts.