The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) did not open any bays on the Bonnet Carré Spillway today (Sunday, March 3, 2019). The MVN will continue to open bays in order to manage the maximum flow at New Orleans at or below the target flow of 1.25 million cubic feet per second.
The MVN will continue to oversee the operation of the Spillway as a flood control structure in accordance with the approved Bonnet Carré Spillway Water Control Manual. The MVN intends to slowly open a total of 200 bays (approximately) based on efforts to maintain the maximum flow at New Orleans. The MVN now indicates the projected crest above the Spillway on March 12, 2019 and projects the crest to have a maximum flow of 1.442 million cubic feet per second at Red River Landing with flow calculation adjusted for downriver.
The trigger flow requiring the operation of the Morganza Spillway is 1.5 million cubic feet per second, the MVN does not anticipate operating the Morganza Spillway.
BONNET CARRé SPILLWAY OPERATION
| DATE | CARROLTON GAUGE (NEW ORLEANS) | BAYS OPENED | TOTAL NUMBER OF BAYS OPENED | SPILLWAY DISCHARGE CUBIC FEET PER SECOND (cfs) |
| 2/27/19 | 16.02 feet | 28 | 28 | 23,000 cfs |
| 2/28/19 | 16.2 feet | 20 | 48 | 37,000 cfs |
| 3/1/19 | 15.99 feet | 40 | 88 | 75,000 cfs |
| 3/2/19 | 16.0 feet | 20 | 108 | 93,000 cfs |
| 3/3/19 | 16.3 feet | 0 | 108 | 95,000 cfs |
The Carrolton Gauge is now expected to reach 17.0 feet on March 8, 2019 and to remain at that stage until March 26, 2019. The operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway will artificially control the crest at approximately 17 feet and keep the maximum flow at New Orleans at or below 1.25 million cfs.
