General DNR News

Water flow may be raised for crawfish crop

Baton Rouge---Just in case the long-range weather forecast fails, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is prepared to help nature's course — a little. The Old River Control Structure usually diverts 30 percent of the water from the Mississippi River down the Atchafalaya River but 32 percent may be the magic number to help boost the state's crawfish crop this season.

For the past few weeks, crawfishermen have been concerned with poor conditions for their crop and have asked state officials to help, in case mother nature wouldn't. Last year, crawfish prices were high and production was down. This year, crawfish farmers say that low water plus cold weather keep crawfish in their burrows. And the peak harvest season is fast approaching.

Governor Mike Foster and basin area officials including Sen. Butch Gautreaux and Rep. Emma Devillier also concerned that past years of drought conditions have hurt the industry, requested that the Corps (on Feb.13th) consider changing standard water levels and increase the water flow into the Atchafalaya Basin at Old River.

But Corps officials believe weather conditions are better than the crawfishermen anticipated. According to Corps officials, the river stage at Butte LaRose is above 9 ft. and the forecast condition for the Red River Basin is normal precipitation. Additionally, officials say that the National Weather Service forecast for spring flooding in the lower Mississippi valley is "above average." The Corps, since 1950, has operated the Old River control structure at a 70 percent Mississippi River, 30 percent Atchafalaya River distribution.

However, Brig. Gen. Edwin Arnold, president of the Mississippi River Commission has recently responded to Gov. Foster's request, saying that Corps officials may prepare to increase the water flow should the stage at Butte LaRose fall below 9 ft.

Gen. Arnold said in his letter to the governor (on Feb. 21st), "With current conditions in mind, I have instructed my New Orleans District office to be prepared to increase flows in the Atchafalaya River up to a maximum of 32 percent of flow at the latitude below Old River if such a deviation will help maintain the Butte LaRose stage above 9 ft. ngvd. However, the New Orleans District will not implement such a deviation until such time as it is likely that the stage at Butte LaRose will go below 9 ft. ngvd and will limit the duration of the deviation to no more than 2 weeks."

Gov. Foster, Atchafalaya Basin Program Executive Director Sandra Thompson Decoteau and other state officials say they are pleased with the response.

Editors: For more on this topic, please contact DNR Public Information Officer Phyllis Darensbourg at 225-342-8955.