Old Jefferson, La. - While officials are keeping their eye on the rising Mississippi, residents living outside of the levees in Old Jefferson are already seeing the water creep into their backyard.
It's happening in a small community called the batture, where a dozen or so families live right on the Mississippi's edge.
"If this camp floods, the whole city floods," resident Bob Dupuy said.
He's been watching the water level rise the last few days. On Monday, it was at 14 feet. You would think that's a cause of concern.
"I'm not worried," he said.
Dupuy says he has total confidence that the Bonne Carre Spillway will do its job and keep the water from rising above 17 feet. His home is 22 feet off the ground. However he is worried about debris.
"See these big trees back if one of those pokes through the fence and get underneath the camp, they'll knock all the pilings."
Just about every spring the levels rise, but Derek Boese with the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority, which helps monitor the levee on the East Bank, says this time it is unusually high.
"Well, the Corp doesn't allow it to go higher than 17 feet at the Carrollton Gauge," Boese explained.
And because of the levels, the Army Corp of Engineers will be opening the Bonnet Carre Spillway this Thursday to prevent flooding.
"These people will certainly notice it, it will be up typically around their porch."
Inside the levee protection area, folks are likely not to see much of an impact, but beyond it, folks like Dupuy will have to maintain a closer eye on the water.
"It can come up about 2 more feet and our fences will still hold stuff out."
If the Corps of Engineers do open up the Spillway, it will only be the 12th time it has to do so since it was first built in 1937.