The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) did not close any bays on the Bonnet Carré Spillway today (Monday, March 18, 2019). The MVN will manage the closing of bays while keeping 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, 196 of the 350 bays remain opened.
The latest maximum flow projection is 1.40 million cfs, this projection is based on the measured flow at Red River Landing, with timing adjusted for downriver.
BONNET CARRÉ SPILLWAY OPERATIONS
| DATE | CARROLTON GAUGE (NEW ORLEANS) | BAYS OPENED | TOTAL NUMBER OF BAYS OPENED | TOTAL NUMBER OF BAYS CLOSED | SPILLWAY DISCHARGE CUBIC FEET PER SECOND (cfs) |
| 2/27/19 | 16.02 feet | 28 | 28 | N/A | 23,000 cfs |
| 2/28/19 | 16.20 feet | 20 | 48 | N/A | 37,000 cfs |
| 3/1/19 | 15.99 feet | 40 | 88 | N/A | 75,000 cfs |
| 3/2/19 | 16.00 feet | 20 | 108 | N/A | 93,000 cfs |
| 3/3/19 | 16.30 feet | 0 | 108 | N/A | 95,000 cfs |
| 3/4/19 | 16.50 feet | 40 | 148 | N/A | 133,000 cfs |
| 3/5/19 | 16.5 feet | 0 | 148 | N/A | 144,000 cfs |
| 3/6/19 | 16.6 feet | 0 | 148 | N/A | 148,000 cfs |
| 3/7/19 | 16.6 feet | 20 | 168 | N/A | 169,000 cfs |
| 3/8/19 | 16.6. feet | 20 | 188 | N/A | 187,000 cfs |
| 3/9/19 | 16.7 feet | 0 | 188 | N/A | 191,000 cfs |
| 3/10/19 | 16.75 feet | 10 | 198 | N/A | 196,000 cfs |
| 3/11/19 | 16.6 feet | 8 | 206 | N/A | 196,000 cfs |
| 3/12/19 | 16.8 feet | N/A | 206 | N/A | 196,000 cfs |
| 3/13/19 | 16.8 feet | N/A | 206 | N/A | 202,000 cfs |
| 3/14/19 | 16.7 feet | N/A | 206 | N/A | 204,000 cfs |
| 3/15/19 | 16.7 feet | N/A | 196 | 10 | 196,000 cfs |
| 3/16/19 | 16.8 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 199,000 cfs |
| 3/17/19 | 16.9 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 204,000 cfs |
| 3/18/19 | 16.8 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 207,000 cfs |
The operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway will artificially control the crest at 16.8 feet (approximately). The Carrolton Gauge forecasts indicate the stage level will remain at approximately 16.8 feet from the reported crest on March 12, 2019 (16.8 feet with 206 bays opened) until April 1, 2019 and then begin a slow fall, expected to reach 14.4 feet on April 14, 2019. The MVN estimates having closed all bays by the second week of April, all predictions are dependent upon precipitation levels estimated for the Mississippi River Basin Watershed.
