Morganza videos

Here are a couple of videos on the Morganza Spillway.


Video 1 is a Corps of Engineers video telling what it is and what it is supposed to do.


http://blackjackoak.wordpress.com/2011/05/14/morganza-spillway-video-from-u-s-army-corps-of-engineers/


Video 2 was shot by the Corps of Engineers today at 3 and fed live. This was the narration from WDSU, Channel 6 in New Orleans. The NBC affiliate. One mistatement from the reporter was that today was the first and only day the spillway would be open.

http://www.wdsu.com/video/27896061/detail.html

A recap:

• Morganza was built in 1954

• Opened twice ... in the flood of 1973 and now

• Corps considers opening it when the flow on the Mississippi River reaches 1.5 million cfs at Red River Landing. That is the trigger point because at flows higher than that, the integrity of the levee system south of Baton Rouge is in jeopardy

• Only one gate is currently open, diverting 10,000 cfs from the Mississippi. To put that flow into perspective, at that rate, the water would fill the New Orleans Superdome in just 28 minutes.

• The reduced initial flow was designed to prevent scouring of the levees and to allow wildlife and people to remain ahead of the rising water. All areas that would be affected within the first 24 hours were totally evacuated prior to the 3 p.m. opening.

• The release, as long as the Mississippi flows in excess of 1.5 million cfs, will eventually reach 125,000 cfs — which is one-fourth of Morganza's capacity.

• Krotz Springs is the first populated area in the line of the flood water. There is an 80,000 barrels per day oil refinery owned by ALON USA that will cease operation. A levee has been built around the refinery and National Guardsmen raised a levee to protect more than 200 homes.

• Butte a la Rose is the only community that lies with the Atchafalaya Basin and will be inundated by the flood waters. The community is located on a high point where the Atchafalaya River makes a sharp bend and divides into the Little Atchafalaya River to the South and the Upper Grand River to the North. About 800 houses, or "camps" are within the area, which is expected to be under water ranging from 15-to-20 feet in depth.