The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) closed 17 bays yesterday not 20 as intended and no bays were closed on the Bonnet Carré Spillway today (Friday, March 29, 2019). The Corps plans to resume closing bays on Monday, April 1st.
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 1.347 million cfs, this projection is based on the measured flow at Red River Landing, with calculations 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, 135 of the 350 bays remain opened. During the recorded crest 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 OPEN | 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 |
| 3/27/19 | 16.6 feet | N/A | 152 | 24 | 132,000 cfs |
| 3/28/19 | 16.6 feet | N/A | 135 | 17 | 131,000 cfs |
| 3/29/19 | 16.7 feet | N/A | 135 | 0 | 131,000 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 the Carrolton Gauge indicate a slow fall has begun, the stage is expected to reach 13.1 feet on April 26, 2019.
The MVN expects to have all bays on the Bonnet Carré Spillway closed by April 8, 2019.
