NEW ORLEANS — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Thursday that the Mississippi River has risen above 11 feet in New Orleans, prompting the corps to activate Phase 1 of its flood fight procedures.
The river level measured at 11:06 feet on Thursday, prompting the Corps to begin patrol levees along the river twice weekly until the water level lowers. The added patrols will allow the Corps and local levee authorities to respond quickly to problem areas that may develop due to the elevated water levels.
The National Weather Service's latest forecast predicts that the Mississippi River will crest at 12.1 feet on March 21 for a few days before it starts to fall.
The Corps has said in years past that the New Orleans levees are designed to defend against river levels between 20 to 25 feet. The highest recorded level for the Mississippi River at New Orleans occurred on April 25, 1922, when the river reached 21.27 feet.
Phase 1 procedures are activated when the river rises above 11 feet at the Carrollton gauge and is forecast to continue rising.
How does the Bonnet Carre Spillway Work: (Note: Video is from Feb. 2019)
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