Mississippi River: Bonnet Carré Spillway and Morganza Floodway

H
eavy rain in the Mississippi Valley and rising Mississippi River water stages and flow prompted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, to operate both the Bonnet Carre Spillway and the Morganza Floodway in May 2011.
Bonnet Carre Spillway

In order to view this object you need Flash Player 9+ support!

Get Adobe Flash player

Public safety is the Corps’ top priority during a flood fight. Records have been broken at many points along the Mississippi River, testing the Mississippi River & Tributaries (MR&T) system like it has never been tested before. The Corps operates every flood control feature available to ensure the public’s risk is reduced and the system performs according to its design.

The Corps is committed to maintaining the integrity of the MR&T system. To do so, the Corps coordinates with the United States Coast Guard to maintain safe navigation, local levee districts to monitor all levees, as well as many other local, state, and federal partners. This website provides information on the data collection and monitoring activities initiated in response to the opening of the two structures.