Corps activates levee monitoring along unusually high rivers

The news that the US Army Corps of Engineers has put its flood fight program into action comes at appropriate time, as rain falls steadily across South Louisiana.
The Corps said today it has activated the first phase of flood fight procedures to monitor levees along the unusually high rivers.
Closely coordinating efforts with the local levee authorities, the New Orleans District began patrolling the levees this week and will continue to do so twice weekly while the river remains high.
Phase one is a proactive measure that is triggered when the Mississippi River reaches 11 feet and is forecast to continue to rise.
The increased patrols help ensure our ability to quickly respond to any problem areas that may develop along the levee system because of the elevated water levels.
Typically, high water season occurs in the spring, but heavy rainfall in the Mississippi River valley has increased river water levels again. The current water level at the Carrollton Gage is 11.9 feet. The current National Weather Service crest forecast is at 14.5 feet at the Carrollton Gage February 12.
At Red River Landing, the Mississippi was at 47.2, .8 of a foot below flood stage and up one-half a foot.
With the current forecast, the Corps does not anticipate opening the Bonnet Carré Spillway at this time.
The Atchafalaya River was at 4.67 feet in Morgan City on Wednesday, .6 of a foot above flood stage.
All Atchafalaya reading stations above Morgan City reported rises on Wednesday.