The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) did not open any bays on the Bonnet Carré  Spillway today (Tuesday, March 12, 2019) no additional bays are expected to be opened.  The MVN manages the opening of bays in order to keep the maximum flow at New Orleans at/or below the trigger point flow of 1.25 million cubic feet per second (cfs).  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 advises the crest above the Spillway is presently forecasted to arrive on March 13, 2019.  The latest maximum flow projection is 1.453 million cfs, this projection isbased on the measured flow at Red River Landing, with timing adjusted for downriver.  The MVN indicates that by reducing the 1.453 million cfs with the flow through the Spillway at 203,000 cfs the targeted flow will be maintained at New Orleans (1.25 million cfs) through the operation of the flood control structure with the 200 bays opened (estimated).

                                                          BONNET CARRÉ  SPILLWAY OPERATIONS             

The operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway will artificially control the crest at 17 feet (approximately) and maintain the maximum flow at New Orleans at or below 1.25 million cfs. The Carrolton Gauge forecasts indicate the crest is now expected to be 16.8 feet (March 12, 2019) and to remain at that stage until April 2, 2019 before beginning a slow fall.  There may be another rise in early April, high river conditions are expected to continue for the next month or longer.