The Army Corps of Engineers announced on Monday that it would begin the closing process at Bonnet Carré Spillway.
The corps stated in a release that the decision was based on the reduced flows in the Mississippi River at Red River Landing.
The corps said it will continue to assess conditions of the Mississippi River and perform closure operations as the river flow rates continue to fall.
According to the corps, the Bonnet Carre Spillway is not open to the public in accordance with the state and federal guidelines in response to COVID-19.
The corps said the spillway’s 15 operation began April 3. At the Mississippi River’s peak flow 90 bays were open on the structure with a discharge of 80,000 cubic feet per second being diverted through the spillway.
The Bonnet Carré Spillway is designed to ensure that a maximum river flow of 1.25 million cubic feet per second is passed through the Mississippi River and Tributaries system at New Orleans, the corps says.
Although water levels are receding, allowing the corps to begin structure’s closure, they state, the Mississippi River in the New Orleans District’s area of responsibility remains elevated.
According to the corps, personnel will continue flood fight inspections alongside local levee districts and all levee and excavation restrictions remain in effect.
Information on the daily status of the number of open bays and discharge rate can be found on the New Orleans District’s website here.
