The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) closed 20 bays on the Bonnet Carré Spillway today (Tuesday, March 26, 2019). The MVN manages the opening and closing of bays to ensure the maximum flow at New Orleans remains at/or below the trigger point flow of 1.25 million cubic feet per second (cfs). Today’s maximum flow projection is 1.36million cfs, this projection is based on the measured flow at Red River Landing, with timing adjusted for downriver.
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, 176 of the 350 bays remain opened. During the maximum flow 206 bays were opened and the maximum flow at Red River Landing was estimated to be 1.455 million cfs.
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 |
| ¾/19 | 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 |
| 3/19/19 | 16.9 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 207,000 cfs |
| 3/20/19 | 16.8 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 210,000 cfs |
| 3/21/19 | 16.8 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 196,000 cfs |
| 3/22/19 | 16.7 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 194,000 cfs |
| 3/23/19 | 16.7 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 193,000 cfs |
| 3/24/19 | 16.6 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 185,000 cfs |
| 3/25/19 | 16.6 feet | N/A | 196 | 0 | 177,000 cfs |
| 3/26/19 | 16.5 feet | N/A | 176 | 20 | 158,000 cfs |
The operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway will artificially control the extended crest now reduced to 16.6 feet (approximately). The present conditions and updated forecasts for theCarrolton Gauge indicate a slow fall has begun, the stage is expected to reach 12.6 feet on April 23, 2019.
The MVN expects to close continue closing Bays on the Bonnet Carré Spillway on a daily basis, all bays could be closed over the next 10 days.
