In 1942 part of the flow of the Atchafalaya River was diverted through Wax Lake to the Gulf of Mexico further west. Located in south central Louisiana, it is a combination of wetlands and river delta area where the Atchafalaya River and the Gulf of Mexico converge. Atchafalaya River Retreat in Morgan City, Louisiana, United States - Airbnb Skip to content )[7][8] The volume the Atchafalaya receives from the Mississippi is controlled by the Old River Control Structure, a system of a low-sill structure, an auxiliary structure, an overbank structure, a navigation lock, and a power plant near Red River Landing, Louisiana. The Atchafalaya River is navigable and provides a significant industrial shipping channel for the state of Louisiana. US Army Corps of Engineers - New Orleans District, USGS - National Water Quality Monitoring Network, Lower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City, LA. Morgan City Area Survey title: Survey date: Sheet Name River Mile: PDF: XYZ: SHP: Atchafalaya River Above Stout's Pass - Sh. At Memphis, Tennessee, the Mississippi was over flood stage for 63 days, more than that of the historic 1927 flood, and the river was above flood stage for an even longer 107 days at upstream Cairo, Illinois. [5] The 1973 flood was notable for nearly causing the failure of the Old River Control Structure above the Mississippi River Delta, which would have sent the Mississippi's main channel flowing into the Atchafalaya River and bypassing most of the delta region including the major port of New Orleans, Louisiana.[6]. [2] The flood resulted in the largest volume of water to flow down the Mississippi since the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927. Site GPS Coordinates: 29.694958, -91.210171 Closest Address: 624 Front Street, Morgan City, LA Driving Directions: From Baton Rouge: Take I-10 W across Mississippi River Bridge. Discharge through the Bonnet Carre Spillway increased the level of Lake Pontchartrain to 3 feet above normal, peaking at 14.7 feet at mid-lake. River traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced. River Stages Latest River Stages & Forecasts Current Flood Warnings (include long-range forecast crests) Mississippi River 5-Day Forecast at Red River Landing 5-Day Forecast at Baton Rouge. The Mississippi River provides necessary resources to the United States and the world and has helped to shape American history and commerce, including tourism and the fishing industry. Atchafalaya River At Melville (MLVL1) Return to Top NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Along with being the largest U.S. drainage basin, the Mississippi also creates borders for 10 states. The river stretches from near Simmesport in the north through parts of eight parishes to the Morgan City southern area. In spite of record high flows, flood stages were not as high as past events. 50: The first gate is closed at Cairo. . 5-Day Forecast. The oil and gas industries and commercial fishing fleets use Morgan City as a shipping point, and stevedore and oil and gas supply companies have a large presence in the area. [2] Over $250 million of damages were incurred mainly in the Mississippi Valley states of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. See the current river level, flood stages and level predictions for the Atchafalaya River Level at Morgan City. The Mississippi/Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB), which encompasses both the Mississippi and the Atchafalaya River Basins, is the third largest in the world, after the Amazon and Congo basins. The increased amount of river dredging, levee building, and construction that comes along with this traffic impairs aquatic life in many ways by disturbing their habitat. This levee protects Morgan City in all directions from back flow during high water and storm surges from hurricanes. Cutting a 15-mile-wide path across South Louisiana, it is the largest and last great river-basin swamp. Lock [1] The flooding was the third most severe along the U.S.'s Mississippi River during the 20th century. Horizontal Datum: Official websites use .gov Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The river is formed near Simmesport at the confluence of the Red River with the Mississippi, where the Mississippi connects to the Red River by the 7-mile-long (11km) canalized Old River (part of the Old River Control Structure). Back water flooding of Bayou Bouef will cause damage east of Morgan City to the community of Amelia. On April 7, New Orleans crested at 18.47ft. After the Mississippi River Flood of 1927 and passage of the Flood Control Act of 1928, levees were built along these two rivers to minimize flooding in populated areas. ALTHOUGH THE RIVER PROVIDES FOR MORGAN CITY . Once steamboats were invented, the Mississippi River became an important mode of transportation that revolutionized river commerce. The Atchafalaya River (/tf.la./[2] French: La Rivire Atchafalaya, Spanish: Ro Atchafalaya) is a 137-mile-long (220km)[3] distributary of the Mississippi River and Red River in south central Louisiana in the United States. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lower Atchafalaya River At Morgan City, LA (CORPS/USGS site) X: XX: 03780 : Lower Atchafalaya River Below Sweet Bay Lake (LA) X: XX: 03820 : Wax Lake Outlet Vicinity At Belle Isle, LA: X : "High Flows and Flood History on the Lower Mississippi River", "Floods on the Lower Mississippi: A Historical Economic Overview", "Current high water similar to '73 flood, floodfighting skills, tools improved", "Mississippi River reaches peak flood level", "Mississippi River flooding in 1973 left dead animals everywhere, old-timers remember", "New Orleans Avoided Catastrophe in 1973", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mississippi_flood_of_1973&oldid=1150664118, This page was last edited on 19 April 2023, at 12:09. In times of extreme flooding, the Morganza Spillway further downstream is also used to regulate volume.[9]. Atchafalaya is the nation's largest river swamp, containing almost one million acres of vibrant bottomland hardwoods, swamps, bayous, and backwater lakes. 4.3-0.1. ATCHAFALAYA RIVER AT MORGAN CITY, LA. Rivergages.com - Station Information ForLower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City (03780) If you're having problems with your bookmarks, please clear your browser cache and try again! A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the The largest single inundation, south of St. Louis, Missouri, was caused by a series of catastrophic levee failures on the west bank of the river and ultimately covered almost 9,400 square miles (24,000km2). The flow past Baton Rouge peaked at 1.38 million cubic feet per second (ft3/s) on May 13. It serves as a safer route for large commercial vessels as they transport goods inland along the coast. MORGAN CITY AS IT IS WOULD NOT EXIST WITHOUT THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER. Percent Distribution : 31.9%. The 1,300-mile waterway heads west toward Houston and east toward the Mississippi through two branchesone 15 miles below Port Allen on the west bank near Baton Rouge and another in New Orleans. Locals and tourists alike, return often for our, contemporary creole cuisine, attentive service, warm hospitality, and expertly crafted cocktails. Lower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City, LA - USGS Water Data for the Nation Important Legacy real-time page 7 days 30 days 1 year Lower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City, LA - 07381600 April 20, 2023 - April 27, 2023 Apr 21 Apr 22 Apr 23 Apr 24 Apr 25 Apr 26 Apr 27 0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00 No data available Value Status Time Buildings at the foot of Ann Street on the river side of the flood wall will flood as water overtops the Rio Oil Company dock. An official website of the United States government. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The Atchafalaya River meanders south as a channel of the Mississippi, through extensive levees and floodways, past Morgan City, and empties into the Gulf in Atchafalaya Bay approximately 15 miles (24 km) south of Morgan City. Specialties: New Orleans' only five "A" restaurant. Structures on the river side of protection walls in Morgan City and Berwick will be under water. . Monitoring location 07381600 is associated with a Stream in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana. The river will reach the top of the protection at Mounds and Mound City. Press enter or select the go button to submit request. 64: The river will reach the top of the protection of Cairo. The maintenance of the river as a navigable channel of the Mississippi River has been a significant project of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for more than a century. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. There is a major flood threat. Recent Projected Forecast Available: 3.9 ft, Recent Projected Forecast Time: May 1, 2023 01:00 PM -0500, Highest Projected Forecast Available: 3.9 ft, Highest Projected Forecast Time: May 13, 2023 07:00 AM -0500, Last Projected Forecast Available: 3.9 ft, Last Projected Forecast Time: May 14, 2023 07:00 AM -0500. NAD83/WGS84, Search by city or zip code. Official websites use .gov In addition, backwater flooding could potentially impact portions areas around Lake Palourde and Stephensville. During a meandering 2,350 mile journey south to the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River is joined by hundreds of tributaries, including the Ohio and Missouri Rivers. In this ecologically significant area maintains delicate ecosystems while providing . The Atchafalaya River runs through the basin, which extends north from Morgan City past Lafayette in a maze of bayous, lakes, ponds and cypress swamps. Complete information about the Atchafalaya River at Simmesport, Complete information about the Atchafalaya River at Melville, Complete information about the Atchafalaya River at Krotz Springs, Complete information about the Atchafalaya River above Butte La Rose, Complete information about the Atchafalaya River at Bayou Sorrel Lock, Complete information about the Atchafalaya River at Morgan City. Be sure to check the posted times when reading the stages and forecasts. Buildings on the river side of the Berwick floodwall will flood. Atchafalaya River. at Simmesport. NOTE: River forecasts for this location take into account past precipitation and the precipitation amounts expected approximately 48 hours into the future from the forecast issuance time. 1 The Atchafalaya River is the last major distributary of the Mississippi River, and it receives, on average, 30 percent of the combined flow of the Mississippi and Red Rivers or around 300,000 cubic feet of water per second. 61.72: This flood will exceed the highest stage on record. Many of the original freshwater wetlands, riparian zones and adjacent streams and tributaries along the Mississippi have been disconnected from the river by levees and other engineering modifications. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is yet another connection between the Mississippi River and Morgan City. 3.1. The Morganza Spillway was opened, flooding portions of the Atchafalaya River basin in Louisiana and causing the deaths of thousands of head of livestock and white-tailed deer. The Atchafalaya River Basin stretches from the Baton Rouge area 140 miles south to the coast of Louisiana. A lock ( [5] The river valley forms the Atchafalaya Basin and Atchafalaya Swamp located in southern Louisiana near the Gulf of Mexico. 294147091124000. n/a. But to fully comprehend and appreciate the magnificence of the Atchafalaya, you must journey back to when the Atchafalaya was as nomadic as its people. Prior to the Louisiana Purchase, the Mississippi River acted as the western border for the United States. Lower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City (03780) Stream Name: Lower Atchafalaya Gage Zero: 0 Ft. Gage Flood Stage:6 Ft. Record High Stage:10.53 Ft. Longitude: -91.21083333 Latitude: 29.69638889 River Mile: 117.7 Record High Stage Date: 05/28/1973: Location of Gage: The flow past New Orleans peaked at 1.257 million ft3/s (35,594.28 m3/s) on April 15; the project design flood flow is 1.25 million ft3/s with the balance flowing through the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Longitude: 91.210833 W, The Atchafalaya River Basin in south Louisiana is a mystical place. Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil, Atchafalaya River At Butte La Rose, LA (CORPS/USGS site), Whiskey Bay Pilot Channel Below Head (LA), Blind Tensas Cut Below Upper Grand River (LA), Chicot Pass Near Myete Point (LA) (CORPS/USGS site), Six Mile Lake Above Control Structure (LA), Six Mile Lake Upstream Of Control Structure (LA), Six Mile Lake Downstream Of Control Structure (LA), Wax Lake Outlet At Calumet, LA (CORPS/USGS site), Lower Atchafalaya River At Berwick Lock (LA) (West), Lower Atchafalaya River At Berwick Lock (LA) (East), Lower Atchafalaya River At Morgan City, LA (CORPS/USGS site), Lower Atchafalaya River Below Sweet Bay Lake (LA), Wax Lake Outlet Vicinity At Belle Isle, LA, Bayou Latenache Above Pointe Coupe Drainage Structure, Bayou Latenache Below Pointe Coupe Drainage Structure, WABPL Borrow Pit (FWS) Near Courtableau, LA, Bayou Courtableau Outlet Channel Near Southwest Wing Wall (LA), WABPL Borrow Pit (FWS) At Bayou Messier (LA), Arm Of Grand Lake Near CrookChene Cove (LA), Buffalo Cove At Round Island (LA) (CORPS/USGS site), EABPL Borrow Pit (FWS) Near Ramah, LA (Below I-10), EABPL Borrow Pit (FWS) At Bayou Sorrel Lock (LA), Old River (FWS) At Junction with GIWW (Morgan City - Port Allen) (LA), Intracoastal Waterway Near Pierre Pass, LA, Little Bayou Sorrel At Jct. View the Enhanced Operating Capability Products and Services StoryMap here, Latitude: 29.696389 N, Manmade locks and dams were created to control flooding and create deeper waters for steamboats. Water will cover the lower end of Belleview Front Street in Berwick. Continue for ~11 miles, then turn right onto LA-70 W and continue for ~27 miles down to Morgan City. An official website of the United States government. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The 1973 flood was the first time the Morganza Spillway was opened: from April 19 through June 13. It is the cultural heart of the Cajun Country. provided to the NWS by the gauge owner. Atchafalaya River. Flood stage. View Record Stage High / Lows Annual Hi / Low Stages More data - see USGS National Water Infomation site* *** Please note that we cannot guarantee the timeliness or accuracy of this information since these are external links. Locked padlock NOTE: Forecasts for the Atchafalaya River at Morgan City are issued routinely year-round. Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map Despite control efforts, some researchers believe the likelihood of this event increases each year due to natural forces inherent to river deltas. 2 This has caused a loss of habitat for native plants and animals and has reduced the biological productivity of the entire river basin. [1] Red River Landing, Louisiana reached 58.22 feet on May 13 and was 9th highest crest of record. Natural development of the river channel, coupled with channel training and maintenance for flood control and navigation, have combined to isolate the river from the swamp. Black mans decapitated remains found after he warned his mom he was targeted by truckloads of white guys, Louisiana approved for fourth round of Pandemic EBT benefits, FIRST ALERT 9 A.M. FORECAST: Monday, May 1, FIRST ALERT 5 A.M. FORECAST: Monday, May 1, FIRST ALERT 10 P.M. FORECAST: Sunday, April 30. Some good-sized bass can be caught at this time along both stretches of the Intracoastal Waterway,. The first Atchafalaya River levee or wall constructed in 1946 was 13 feet tall on both sides of the river. The convenience of a trustworthy mode of transportation and a constant water supply encouraged agriculture, industries, and cities to spread to areas along the river. Vessel traffic will be affected by stronger river current and vessel traffic safety rules will be strictly enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard. [3] Out of the seven largest floods on the Mississippi between 1927 and 1997, the 1973 event ranked third in both volume discharged and duration but only sixth in flood height. Over the years, traffic on the river has caused increased bank erosion, turbidity, sediment resuspension, and disruption of native species habitats. The Mississippi is one of the most heavily engineered rivers in the United States. 5-Day Forecast. Please click here to see any active alerts. Some say its not if this will happen but when, as time and Mother Nature will have the final say. River traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced. The Atchafalaya River, the fifth largest river in North America by discharge, receives water from both the Mississippi and Red rivers and is the most direct route to the Gulf of Mexico. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. We feature live music and a "bloody mary bar" during our Sat./Sun brunches . As the final city before the Atchafalaya Basin and River reach the Gulf, Morgan Citys history is intimately tied to this danger. Bookmark. If the river stage at Morgan City is 3 feet or lower, the fishing should be good, he said. Site name This is the official name of the site in the database. Date: December 1972-June 1973: Location: Mississippi Valley, Mississippi River Delta: Deaths: 33: . For details. The Mississippi flood of 1973 occurred between March and May 1973 on the lower Mississippi River. XX in the hourly column denotes near real-time hourly gages (DCP's). Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force. . Subsequent floods resulted in its redesign and expansion. For well information this can be a district-assigned local number. [11], The river's valley was designated Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in 2006. Located near Morgan City, its vast marshes and swamps are full of cypress trees, spanis. Converted from a former seafood processing. navigation and prevent destructive floods; a tremendous aid to the Army Corps of Engineers. To keep the Mississippi in its current channel, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers mandates that only 30 percent of the rivers flowabout 440,000 cubic feet per secondis allowed down the Atchafalaya. This volume is regulated at the Old River Control Structure near Simmesport. Water data back to 1956 are available online. The current 21-foot-wall was built after the Flood of 1973. 40: Keep left at the fork, following signs for LA-1 S toward Plaquemine. Atchafalaya Basin Bonnet Carre' Spillway Old River Control Army Corps Airspace . Official websites use .gov Gage Location: Daily (0800) Hourly: Gage ID: . Site identification number Each site in the USGS data base has a unique 8- to 15-digit identification number. Atchafalaya River At Simmesport, LA (CORPS/USGS site), Atchafalaya River At Simmesport, LA (CORPS/USGS site) - DISCHARGE. The flood stage at Baton Rouge was 42.10 feet on May 10. This data should not be used as a determination of river or water safety during boating, fishing or other water activities. This sites geology/geomorphology: Holocene meander-belt (point bar and overbank) deposits of the Teche course of the Red River. Continue to the river and turn left onto to Front Street. The Atchafalaya Basin comprises an area of 860,000 acres of swamps, lakes and water prairies. The natural capacity of the MARB to remove nutrients has been diminished by a range of human activities. Vessel traffic will be affected by stronger river current and vessel traffic safety rules will be strictly enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard. The city dock will be under water. At Reserve, the crest was 24.50ft on April 8, 7 highest on record. 13: 04/30/2021: AS_13_S2M MM 106.0 to 108.0: PDF: XYZ: Shape Above Stout's Pass - Sh. [4] The Morganza Spillway was opened, flooding portions of the Atchafalaya River basin in Louisiana and causing the deaths of thousands of head of livestock and white-tailed deer. Flood walls protect the cities to an elevation of 21 feet. As snow melts or an unusual amount of rain falls throughout the U.S., the volume of water flowing down the Mississippi increases and eventually reaches flood stage. Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period, Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental), Corps of Engineers (COE) Info for Morgan City, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Morgan City, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Alert System. Greg Grandy of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority speaks during Tuesday's Atchafalaya River Basin Restoration and Enhancement Task Force meeting in Morgan City. For details. . Sherburne Complex Wildlife Management Area, "USGS Surface-Water Annual Statistics for Louisiana", "National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data", "USACE Brochure: Old River Control, Jan 2009", "Map Produced By Gmap4 | Enhanced Google Map Viewer", 10.1130/0091-7613(1978)6<405:SOOTSG>2.0.CO;2, John McPhee: The Control of Nature - Atchafalaya (, Atchafalya River - Engineering Geology Mapping Program, Louisiana, Morgan City to Port Allen, Including the Atchafalaya River, U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Atchafalaya River, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atchafalaya_River&oldid=1151668884, This page was last edited on 25 April 2023, at 13:38. It receives 30% of the combined flow of the Red and Mississippi Rivers. A series of unusually cold winters in the river basin concluded in the winter of 1972-1973, when high precipitation saturated much of the watershed, especially in the Ohio Valley and lower Mississippi Valley. Sabine River Basin: 08022500: Sabine Rv at Logansport, LA : 04/28 23:45 CDT : 24.95 -- -- 7,740 : . If you notice any errors in the below information, please contact our. The Atchafalaya River Basin is the nation's largest river swamp and holds significant ecological and cultural significance for Louisiana and the nation. Take exit 153 for LA-1 N toward Port Allen. Nearby Parking Latitude Discharge (cfs) 805,000-17,000. Current Flood Warnings (include long-range forecast crests). Amite River and Tributaries - East of the Mississippi River, LA Feasibility Study. [12][13], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}30175N 914019W / 30.28472N 91.67194W / 30.28472; -91.67194. The area is a great place for birding, as the cove is lined with cypress trees. Parts or all of 31 states plus two Canadian provinces drain into the Mississippi River, totaling 41% of the contiguous United States and 15% of North America. Morgan City. There is a catastrophic flood threat. Water from parts or all of 31 states drains into the Mississippi River, and creates a drainage basin over 1,245,000 square miles in size. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Morgan City: Your email address will not be published. It flows south, just west of the Mississippi River,[4] and is the fifth largest river in North America, by discharge. With GIWW (Morgan City - Port Allen) (LA), Bayou Boeuf (IWW) At Bayou Boeuf Lock (LA) (East), Bayou Boeuf (IWW) At Bayou Boeuf Lock (LA) (West), Intracoastal Waterway At Wax Lake West Control Structure (LA), East Cote Blanche Bay At Luke's Landing, LA. Atchafalaya Basin Stage Data . Enjoy Million-Dollar Views with this unique Riverfront House outside the levee wall in Morgan City, LA! In 1942 the USACE also created the Wax Lake Outlet, an artificial channel off the Atchafalaya River that diverts water to the Gulf. The project design flood capacity at Baton Rouge is 1.38 million ft3/s (39,077.25 m3/s). Apr 16, 2023 - Entire place for $300. The Bonnet Carre was fully opened between April 7 and June 14 for a record 75 days. Current conditions of Discharge, Dissolved oxygen, Gage height, and more are available. Posted 10/23/2014. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Structures on the river side of protection walls in Morgan City and Berwick will be under water. ITS CONSTANT FLUX CAN DELIVER TIMES OF BOTH HIGH PROSPERITY AND COMPLETE DEVASTATION. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Return to Area Map Flood Categories (in feet) Historic Crests Changing of Mississippi flow down Atchafalaya could be solution for Basin issues Tue, 05/04/2021 - 3:08pm GEOFF STOUTE gstoute@daily-review.com is the approximate location based on the latitude/longitude coordinates Farther down the River at Donaldsonville the flood stage reached 32.30 feet on April 9, which was the 10th highest crest of record. United States. Since the late 20th century, the river has been forming a new delta in the bay, the only place on the Louisiana coastline that is gaining ground rather than eroding. n/a. N/A This information is redistributed from Weather.gov and we make no claims as to it's accuracy, freshness, or reliability. River traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced. Additionally, while you can find current stages within the "forecast" links, the "latest stage" links are usually more up to date. Your email address will not be published. Once in Morgan City, LA-70 W becomes Marguerite Street. Floodwall gates will be closed to protect against higher stages. Deliver vital engineering solutions, in collaboration with our partners, to secure our Nation, energize our economy, and reduce disaster risk. Between 1932 and 2016, while every other basin in Louisiana was losing land, the Atchafalaya Basin gained more than six square miles (4,000 acres) of wetlands. The Mississippi River originates as a tiny outlet stream from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota. This information is redistributed from Weather.gov and we make no claims as to its accuracy, freshness, or reliability. Atchafalaya River at Morgan City Great Wall What's the Story? This was followed by more rain in early 1973, with river flow cresting on March 31 at Red River Landing, Louisiana, and a heavy snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains which caused western tributaries such as the Missouri and Arkansas to form a final catastrophic high in June. Over time, the character of the old river meanders and floodplains have been modified for millions of acres of agriculture and urbanization. This information shows the Atchafalaya River Level at Morgan City at a glance. Evacuation of the cities of Berwick and Morgan City is strongly recommended. This information shows the Atchafalaya River Level at Morgan City at a glance. [10], The Atchafalaya River meanders south as a channel of the Mississippi, through extensive levees and floodways, past Morgan City, and empties into the Gulf in Atchafalaya Bay approximately 15 miles (24km) south of Morgan City. Flow (secondary) data is not currently enabled for this gauge. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS (The remaining 70% continues down the Mississippi River. No Entrance Fees, Biking The water way was first used for trade with Indian tribes when fur pelts were floated down the river from Ohio. Click here to get the latest river stages, flood info and forecasts. 56: U.S. Highway 51 near Wickliffe is flooded. Lock Floodwall gates should be closed by the 5 foot stage to protect against higher stages. Morgan City, Louisiana inundated during May 1973. However, this system made it more difficult for water to be absorbed and made flooding even more detrimental. Productivity from these areas resulted in large amounts of nutrients being discharged from the river system into the Gulf of Mexico. Lower Atchafalaya River at Morgan City, LA : 04/29 00:00 CDT : 4.62 -- -- 142,000 : 073816503: Bayou Penchant S of Morgan City, LA : 12/07 09:30 CST : 2.24 -- -- -918 : 073816525: Mouth of Atchafalaya River at Atchafalaya Bay : 04/16 00:45 CDT : A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the Water will move up the bank and across access roads below the city dock. This page is not available in other languages. The official public website of the New Orleans District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In addition to this seawall, a levee ring surrounds the entire city, turning it into a walled island accessible only by bridges during floods. During the 2011 Mississippi River floods, the Old River complex was discharging more than 706,000 cubic feet per second (20,000m3/s) into the Atchafalaya River, and the Morganza Floodway was discharging one-fourth of its capacity. 985.384-2707 "No Reservations" "Free Show". Old River, Middle Fork and West Fork come into play when the Morgan City river stage is under 3.5 feet. Mississippi River at Tarbert Landing. A lock (