A visit to the Morganza floodway

On Sunday I took a trip up Louisiana highways 1 and 15 to see the flood control structures at the Morganza floodway and at Old River Control.

The Morganza floodway is a huge swath of land through which the Mississippi river can spill in the Atchafalaya basin. Here is some doodling on top of a Google Maps screenshot:



It is controlled by this structure:



This photo (above) is taken facing south. On the left is the overflow from the Mississippi river. On the right is the floodway (green grass). That huge crane is on railroad tracks, so it can travel along the structure and lift up the gates which hold the floodwaters back.

Standing on the structure, you can see one of the railroad tracks that the crane runs along, and the gates straddled by the crane:



Looking straight down, here is one of the gates holding back the water. At the bottom of the photo is the restrained high water. The water near the top of the photo is just leakage:



From the same point, looking out over the water:



Later this week the Army Corps of Engineers will open the gates, unleashing the flood into the Atchafalaya basin, via the Morganza floodway.

Apparently there are still bears living in Louisiana:

The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is prepared to handle any black bears that are forced out of their normal habitat by the rising waters, he said.

Black bear sightings are common in St. Mary Parish, where maps indicate considerable flooding could happen. "Bear Crossing" signs have been posted for several years along U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista and Patterson. (ref)

Here's an infographic from the Times-Picayune:

Audubon Bridge

The new Audubon Bridge across the Mississippi opened on Thursday, replacing the St. Francisville to New Roads ferry crossing.