Department of Natural Resources
Atchafalaya Basin Bulletin

Greetings from the Department of Natural Resources Atchafalaya Basin Program!

NEWS AND EVENTS

Modification of Operational Procedure at Old River Control Complex
Corps will adjust flow distribution to 73%/27% for the remainder of 2016

July 21, 2016

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District (USACE) has indicated that they will temporarily modify the operational procedure at the Old River Control Complex (ORCC) for the remainder of calendar year 2016. The change is expected to have no tangible effect on the Atchafalaya Basin.

The USACE operates the ORCC to maintain a congressionally mandated annual flow distribution of 70% / 30% between the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, respectively. In 2016, the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers had an extended duration of high water during the first six months of the year.

After a high water event, the USACE will typically adjust flows to regain the required 70% / 30% flow distribution by the end of the calendar year. As of July 6, 2016, the 2016 cumulative distribution was 69.1% Mississippi River and 30.9% Atchafalaya.

The USACE intends to operate the ORCC at a rate of 73% / 27% for the remainder of the year or until the target distribution is reached. If the flows for the Red and Mississippi Rivers are average for the remainder of the year, the impacts of this operation will be negligible in the Atchafalaya Basin, with stages remaining within the normal monthly highs/lows.


News:
St. Mary Now: Atchafalaya Basin History Topic of Museum Lecture
LDWF: Wildlife Rehabilitation Training Class in Baton Rouge on Sept. 10
Louisiana Sportsman: 6 tips to catch more bream
LDWF: False River Watershed Council Hosts Open House
Louisiana Sportsman: Basin run-outs light up
Save the Date:
How High's the Water Mama?, art exhibition, July 25 - Aug 14 at the Glassell Gallery in Baton Rouge
Friends of the Atchafalaya monthly meeting, July 26 at 6:30 pm in Butte LaRose
Acadian Day of Remembrance, July 28 at 3 pm at the Acadian Memorial in St. Martinville
Baton Rouge Herb Society July Meeting, July 28 at 6:30pm at Hilltop Arboretum in Baton Rouge
Nature at Night, July 22 and 29 at the Louisiana State Arboretum in Ville Platte
Southwest Louisiana Attakapas Opelousas Prairie Tribe Festival, July 30 from 10am - 5pm at the Farmers Market Pavillion in Opelousas
Free NEA folklife institute for teachers, Aug 1-2 at Vermilionville
Volunteers needed for Tour du Teche, deadline is Aug 5
Atchafalaya Basin History Lecture, Aug 24 at 6 pm at the Jeanerette Museum

Send in your Basin Pics!

Let us know if you have an upcoming event to promote the Basin!

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 7/28/2016

ALL STAGE FORECASTS INCLUDE 24 HOURS OF FUTURE RAINFALL.

Ohio 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: 23.9'
24 hour change: +0.7'
Forecast: expect to RISE to 24.4' by 8/02

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: 30.6'
24 hour change: -0.9'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 30.1' by 8/02

Mississippi River at Baton Rouge
Flood Stage: 35'
Stage: 15.5'
24 hour change: -0.8'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 14.3' by 8/02

Mississippi River at New Orleans
Flood Stage: 17'
Stage: 5.0'
24 hour change: -0.2'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 4.8' by 8/02

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: 10.7'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 10.1' by 8/02

Atchafalaya River at Melville
Flood Stage: 34'
Stage: 7.3'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 6.5' by 8/02

Atchafalaya River at Krotz Springs
Flood Stage: 29'
Stage: 6.6'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 5.6' by 8/02

Atchafalaya River above Butte La Rose
Flood Stage: 20'
Stage: 5.2'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 4.6' by 8/02

Atchafalaya River at Bayou Sorrell Locks on the GIWW
Flood Stage: 12'
Stage: 4.2'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 4.0' by 8/02

Atchafalaya at Millet (Myette) Point
Flood Stage: 15'
Stage: 3.4'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 3.3' by 8/02

Atchafalaya River at Morgan City
Flood Stage: 6'
Stage: 3.0'
Forecast: expect to FALL to 2.9' by 8/02

Lower Grand River at Bayou Sorrel
Stage: 6.46'

Bayou Courtableau
Stage: 17.97'

Middle Fork, Bayou Long
Stage: 3.63'

Arm of Grand Lake near Crook Chene Cove
Stage: 7.14'

Pontoon Bridge at Butte Larose
Stage: 5.09'

Lake Pelba at I-10, Henderson
Stage: 8.45'

Little Alabama Bayou at Sherbourne
Stage: 16.84'

Bayou La Rompe at Lake Long
Stage: 5.92'

Keelboat Pass below Lake Chicot
Stage: 4.04'

   
  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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