The Corps’ Mississippi Valley New Orleans (MVN) completed the closure of the Bonnet Carré  Spillway today (Thursday, April 11, 2019).   

The Spillway was operated for 44 days, making this the fourth longest opening in the history of the structure and the longest opening required since 1973.

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).  The MVN reported the flow dipped below the trigger point level (less than 1.25 million cfs) on Friday, April 5, 2019.

Today’s maximum flow projection is 1.138 million cfs, this projection is based on the measured flow at Red River Landing, with calculations adjusted for downriver.      

During the recorded crest 206 bays were open 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
3/30/19 16.8 feet N/A 135 0 131,000 cfs
3/31/19 16.8 feet N/A 135 0 131,000 cfs
4/1/19 16.8 feet N/A 135 0 135,000 cfs
4/2/19 16.7 feet N/A 135 0 126,000 cfs
4/3/19 16.5 feet N/A 135 0 114,000 cfs
4/4/19 16.5 feet N/A 135 0 107,000 cfs
4/5/19 16.3 feet N/A 135 0 101,000 cfs
4/6/19 16.2 feet N/A 135 0 94,000 cfs
4/7/19 16.0 feet N/A 135 0 86,000 cfs
4/8/19 16.0 feet N/A 99 36 61,000 cfs
4/9/19 15.8 feet N/A 52 47 38,000 cfs
4/10/19 15.9 feet N/A 18 34 19,000 cfs
4/11/19 16.0 feet N/A 0 18 5,500 cfs (needle seepage)

 

The present conditions and updated forecasts for the Carrolton Gauge indicate the stage will remain at approximately 15.9 feet until April 15, 2019 before beginning a slow fall.  The river stage forecast of the Carrollton Gauge for May 9, 2019indicates a reading of 14.3 feet.