Rising River Triggers Phase 1 Flood Fight

With the Carrollton Gage near river mile 103 on the Lower Mississippi River surpassing 11 feet, the New Orleans Engineer District announced March 11 the start of its Phase 1 flood fight operations.

When the river rises above 11 feet at Carrollton, the Corps, in coordination with local levee districts, begins twice weekly levee patrols.

“The increased patrols help ensure our ability to respond quickly to any problem areas that may develop along the levee system because of the elevated water levels,” the Corps said in a statement.

According to the National Weather Service’s forecast, the Mississippi River at New Orleans is expected to crest at about 13 feet on or about March 18, then begin to drop a week later. By the start of April, the National Weather Service expects the river to fall below 10 feet.

When the river rises above 11 feet at the Carrollton Gage, the Corps also prohibits the transport of heavy loads over the levee, disturbance of grass along the earthen levees and subsurface work within 1,500 feet of the levee. Waivers may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Permit holders should contact their local levee district and monitor river levels by phone at 504-862-2461 or online at www.rivergages.com.

The last time the Mississippi River in New Orleans surpassed 11 feet on the rise was early January 2020.