Department of Natural Resources
Atchafalaya Basin Bulletin

Greetings from DNR Secretary Scott Angelle and the Department of Natural Resources Atchafalaya Basin Program

LATEST NEWS AND EVENTS:

WWL: EcoTourism takes a major step forward in Louisiana

Louisiana Sportsman: Data show flooding had little impact on Atchafalaya Delta deer herd

Friends of Atchafalaya: The Friends of the Atchafalaya, a group dedicated to promoting conservation of the historic, cultural, and natural resources of the greater Atchafalaya Basin region, will hold its annual membership meeting at 6:30 PM at the Bluebonnet Branch of the East Baton Rouge Parish Library, on April 24, 2012. All interested members of the public are invited to hear reports on the condition of the Atchafalaya Basin Floodway, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area, and new archaeological findings in the area, and to discuss the future of the Atchafalaya Basin. Bring your talents to an organization committed to conserving a great Louisiana resource.

Visit http://www.atchafalaya.info for more information.

Three reports are scheduled for presentation at the meeting:

Basin watcher Charles Caillouet will describe several different "Atchafalaya Basins" and relate a brief history of the area, and will comment on some effects of the flood of 2011.

Debra Credeur, Executive Director of the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area will talk about the status of the Heritage Area, their projects and the groups that are working with them.

Naturalist and Basin researcher Jim Delahoussaye will report on some surprising findings in middens (refuse piles) at a 1400 year old Native American village site inside the Atchafalaya Floodway.

Upcoming events: The 8th Annual Step Outside Day is scheduled for Saturday May 12th from 9:00 am-3:00 pm at the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area Headquarters. Click here to learn more.

Reminder:

Water Management Project Nominations must be submitted prior to June 1st 2012 for consideration in the next Annual Basin Plan process (FY2014). You can access the nomination form at:

http://dnr.louisiana.gov/assets/OCM/ABP/FY2014ANNUALPLAN_WMP_NOMINATIONFORM.pdf

If you need assistance in completing a form please contact our Basin Program Staff at 225-342-6437 or Atchafalaya@la.gov.

FY2013 Atchafalaya Basin Program Plan:
The Atchafalaya Basin Program presented the FY2013 Annual Basin Plan for consideration to the Atchafalaya Basin Research and Promotion Board during a meeting held on January 23, 2012. The plan was approved by the Research and Promotion Board and will next be presented to the Louisiana Legislature for consideration in the upcoming Regular Legislative Session, Click here if you would like to view the FY2013 Annual Basin Plan.

Atchafalaya Basin Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment System:  
The Atchafalaya Basin Natural Resource Inventory and Assessment System (ABNRIAS) is now available online at http://abp.cr.usgs.gov/   

FY2011-2012 Atchafalaya Basin Program Annual Plan:  
To view the FY2011-2012 Atchafalaya Basin Program Annual Plan, go to  www.basin.louisiana.gov.

Checking the water:
The information below is obtained from the USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has been compiled by DNR into this format to allow a quick look at information pertinent to the Atchafalaya Basin. Click here for current weather conditions and water levels.

Data is for 4/19/2012

ALL STAGE FORECASTS INCLUDE 24 HOURS OF FUTURE RAINFALL.

Mississippi River at Cairo
Location: Southernmost gauge on the Ohio River in Illinois Reading significance - used to forecast rises on the Mississippi. Lag time, 4 to 6 days.
Flood Stage: 40'
Stage: 22.0'
Forecast: expect to RISE to 22.3' by 4/23

Mississippi River, just south of ORCS, at Red River Landing
Reading: Mississippi River south of ORCS, after the diversion into the Atchafalaya
Flood Stage: 48'
Stage: 35.7'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 33.1' by 4/23

Atchafalaya River, just south of ORCS, at Simmesport
Reading: The combined latitudinal flows of the Red, Black, Ouachita, and ORCS flow from the Mississippi
Flood Stage: 47'
Stage: 15.16'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 13.5' by 4/23

Atchafalaya River at Melville
Flood Stage: 41'
Stage: 11'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 9.7' by 4/23

Atchafalaya River at Krotz Springs
FLASH FLOOD WATCH
Flood Stage: 37'
Stage: 9.98'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 9' by 4/23

Atchafalaya River above Butte Larose
Flood Stage: 25'
Stage: 8.23'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 7.7' by 4/23

Atchafalaya River at Bayou Sorrell Locks on the GIWW
Flood Stage: 12'
Stage: 6.2'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 5.6' by 4/23

Atchafalaya at Millet (Myette) Point
Flood Stage: 15'
Stage: 5.05'
Forecast: expect to RISE to 5.1' by 4/23

Atchafalaya River at Morgan City
Flood Stage: 4'
Stage: 3.62'
Forecast: expect to HOLD at 3.6' by 4/23
NOTE: Gauge reading affected by ocean tides.

Murphy Lake near Bayou Sorrel
Stage: 11.77'

Lower Grand River at Bayou Sorrel
Stage: 6.53'

Bayou Courtableau
Stage: 19.53'

Buffalo Cove at Round Island
Stage: 7.07'

Arm of Grand Lake near Crook Chene
Stage: 9.16'

Middle Fork, Bayou Long
Stage: 5.11'

Pontoon Bridge at Butte Larose
Stage: 8.49'

Bayou Darby at Fausse Pt. Cut
Stage: 13.42'

Beau Bayou Swamp
Stage: 14.43'

Lake Pelba at I-10, Henderson
Stage: 12.46'

 

   
  Department of Natural Resources
617 North Third Street | LaSalle Building
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 342-0556
www.dnr.louisiana.gov
 
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