Official websites use .gov This levee protects Morgan City in all directions from back flow during high water and storm surges from hurricanes. Atchafalaya Heritage Trail Site at Morgan City Great Wall 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. [1] Red River Landing, Louisiana reached 58.22 feet on May 13 and was 9th highest crest of record. Morgan City, officials said, can expect another 1-2 feet of water, possibly enough to challenge the highest crest recorded on the Atchafalaya River, 10.53 feet on May 28, 1973. The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway is yet another connection between the Mississippi River and Morgan City. Specialties: New Orleans' only five "A" restaurant. United States. Mississippi flood of 1973 - Wikipedia 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. 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. Atchafalaya River at Morgan City, La - Usgs Current conditions of Discharge, Dissolved oxygen, Gage height, and more are available. Vessel traffic will be affected by stronger river current and vessel traffic safety rules will be strictly enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard. Changing of Mississippi flow down Atchafalaya could be solution for Basin issues Tue, 05/04/2021 - 3:08pm GEOFF STOUTE gstoute@daily-review.com 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 : [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]. More water must also funnel down the Atchafalaya, whose flood stage is six feet at this location, threatening flooding in cities located along each of these rivers. In addition, backwater flooding could potentially impact portions areas around Lake Palourde and Stephensville. There is a catastrophic flood threat. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Action stage. We make no claims that would constitute an interpretation of water safety and this data should be used for entertainment purposes only. Atchafalaya National Heritage Area Trails | Louisiana Travel Atchafalaya River at Morgan City Great Wall What's the Story? This has caused a loss of habitat for native plants and animals and has reduced the biological productivity of the entire river basin. [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. In spite of record high flows, flood stages were not as high as past events. Subsequent floods resulted in its redesign and expansion. 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. In 1942 part of the flow of the Atchafalaya River was diverted through Wax Lake to the Gulf of Mexico further west. 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 River Level at Morgan City - Fishing Trips Today Manmade locks and dams were created to control flooding and create deeper waters for steamboats. Turn left on LA-317 for one-half mile and turn right onto Alice C Rd/Parish Road 16. 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. In Morgan City, a walkway was installed on top of the wall, giving visitors a birds eye view of the river and traffic. ATCHAFALAYA RIVER AT MORGAN CITY, LA. According to U.S. Census data, nearly 30% of Americans live in the MARB. 294147091124000. n/a. Atchafalaya River Basin Restoration & Enhancement (ARBRE) Task Force Amite River. . The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. JavaScript appears to be disabled on this computer. 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 There is a major flood threat. Your email address will not be published. Atchafalaya Basin Stage Data - United States Army Gage Location: Daily (0800) Hourly: Gage ID: . Atchafalaya Basin Bonnet Carre' Spillway Old River Control Army Corps Airspace . For details. Before reaching the Gulf, the Mississippi meets up with its distributary, the Atchafalaya River. This volume is regulated at the Old River Control Structure near Simmesport. USGS Current Conditions for Louisiana_ Streamflow ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Locked padlock Water will cover the lower end of Belleview Front Street in Berwick. Structures on the river side of protection walls in Morgan City and Berwick will be under water. 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. Continue ~22 miles to White Castle and turn right onto LA-69/Bowie Street. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Lock Atchafalaya River. The Atchafalaya River Basin is the nation's largest river swamp and holds significant ecological and cultural significance for Louisiana and the nation. Amite River and Tributaries - East of the Mississippi River, LA Feasibility Study. 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. 40: However, this system made it more difficult for water to be absorbed and made flooding even more detrimental. Water data back to 1956 are available online. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the USGS Current Conditions for Louisiana_ Streamflow Flow (secondary) data is not currently enabled for this gauge. These nutrients have contributed to hypoxia. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the [11], The river's valley was designated Atchafalaya National Heritage Area in 2006. The National Weather Service prepares its forecasts and other services in collaboration with agencies like the US Geological Survey, US Bureau of Reclamation, US Army Corps of Engineers, Natural Resource Conservation Service, National Park Service, ALERT Users Group, Bureau of Indian Affairs, and many state and local emergency managers across the country. 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. 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. 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. Over the years, traffic on the river has caused increased bank erosion, turbidity, sediment resuspension, and disruption of native species habitats. We feature live music and a "bloody mary bar" during our Sat./Sun brunches . The Atchafalaya River is low at that point, typically at 2.5 feet at the Morgan City gauge, and most water movement is controlled by tides. The natural capacity of the MARB to remove nutrients has been diminished by a range of human activities. 4.3-0.1. N/A 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. This capacity has been reduced by channelization. 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 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. Be sure to check the posted times when reading the stages and forecasts. 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. The city dock will be under water. Due to Morgan Citys central location on the Atchafalaya and the GIWW, it has developed into an important hub for industrial and commercial activities. 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. 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: 3.1. 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). Once in Morgan City, LA-70 W becomes Marguerite Street. [5] The river valley forms the Atchafalaya Basin and Atchafalaya Swamp located in southern Louisiana near the Gulf of Mexico. at Morgan City. navigation and prevent destructive floods; a tremendous aid to the Army Corps of Engineers. The Atchafalaya River Basin in south Louisiana is a mystical place. River traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced. View Record Stage High / Lows Annual Hi / Low Stages More data - see USGS National Water Infomation site* United States. 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! at Darlington. The first Atchafalaya River levee or wall constructed in 1946 was 13 feet tall on both sides of the river. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. Some say its not if this will happen but when, as time and Mother Nature will have the final say. 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. 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. Sabine River Basin: 08022500: Sabine Rv at Logansport, LA : 04/28 23:45 CDT : 24.95 -- -- 7,740 : . Atchafalaya River - Wikipedia 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. Historically, the coastal marshes of Louisiana have provided a natural barrier against the erosion caused by the fierce storms which often come from the Gulf by neutralizing some of the flow energy of the water. River traffic restrictions will be strictly enforced. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Boating. 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. 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.
