River Levels April 16, 2020

the Mississippi River has crested this week.  While we were busy quarantining ourselves the river was busy rising.  The Bonnet Carre  Spillway just west of New Orleans and east of Baton Rouge.  On April 3, 2020 the Army Corps of Engineers opened 90 bays.  Since the river level is dropping, they have decided not to close those bays yet.  The Spillway is designed to allow the water in the Mississippi River to bypass New Orleans and thus alleviate any flooding that would occur.

This is the 3rd year in a row the Bonnet Carre has opened.  Unprecedented.  And last year, the second year in row was itself unprecedented.

Here in Baton Rouge, I compare the level of the river by photographing the letters BATON ROUGE along the levee at Main Street and River Road.

Today, Frank and I grabbed some po boys from Poor Boy Lloyd's and sat on the levee to eat.  The day is incredible!  Not a cloud in the sky and a crisp coolness in the air, even in the sun.  After the rain a couple days ago, the air has been cleared of some of that pollen and things look brighter.

Here is the river today, at 43.5 feet.  Keeping in mind that flood stage is 35 feet.  Can't even see the letters!











From just a couple weeks ago, the letters are about 2/3s covered.

And then August last year: