When through the deep waters I call thee to go, The rivers of woe Shall not thee overflow; For I will be with thee, Thy troubles to bless, And sanctify to thee Thy deepest distress.
Paul (A.), I read the article by McPhee when it came out in 1987. He writes about the Old River Control Structure at Simmesport, north of the Morganza Floodway. The Mississippi River wants to take the most direct route to the Gulf of Mexico, which is through the Atchafalaya River basin. If that happened vast areas would be flooded, and the Baton Rouge and New Orleans ports would be finished as major ports. The passage of large ships between NO and north of BR would cease, because the Mississippi River would not have enough water to support major shipping.
The Old River Control Structure was built to direct the major flow to the Mississippi River rather than the Atchafalaya River at roughly 70%/30%. McPhee and others think that the structure could fail and the river eventually have its way, and they may be right. Since the article was written, a reinforcement has been constructed at the ORCS, which should go further to prevent its failure. We shall see.
The purpose of the Morganza Floodway is entirely different. It's built to send water into the Atchafalaya River basin to protect Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the refineries and chemical plants along the Mississippi between BR and New Orleans in the event the Mississippi reaches flood stage, which it has. The flooding of the Atchafalaya River basin is to prevent the levees along the Mississippi from overtopping or breaching from intense pressure from the high waters in the river, which could be catastrophic.
I hope this helps. I suppose I should turn this comment into a post.
Mimi, you are in my thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteWhen through the deep waters
I call thee to go,
The rivers of woe
Shall not thee overflow;
For I will be with thee,
Thy troubles to bless,
And sanctify to thee
Thy deepest distress.
Tobias, thank you. I love the hymn.
ReplyDeleteSame here. Sorry I haven't been by to comment in a long time. You're in our thoughts and prayers.
ReplyDeleteTerrifying, but impressive :( Awful for those in its path.
ReplyDeleteIs the opening of the floodway to the Atchafalaya the beginning of the end for Baton Rouge and New Orleans?
ReplyDelete(H/t AmericaBlog)
Paul (A.), I read the article by McPhee when it came out in 1987. He writes about the Old River Control Structure at Simmesport, north of the Morganza Floodway. The Mississippi River wants to take the most direct route to the Gulf of Mexico, which is through the Atchafalaya River basin. If that happened vast areas would be flooded, and the Baton Rouge and New Orleans ports would be finished as major ports. The passage of large ships between NO and north of BR would cease, because the Mississippi River would not have enough water to support major shipping.
ReplyDeleteThe Old River Control Structure was built to direct the major flow to the Mississippi River rather than the Atchafalaya River at roughly 70%/30%. McPhee and others think that the structure could fail and the river eventually have its way, and they may be right. Since the article was written, a reinforcement has been constructed at the ORCS, which should go further to prevent its failure. We shall see.
The purpose of the Morganza Floodway is entirely different. It's built to send water into the Atchafalaya River basin to protect Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the refineries and chemical plants along the Mississippi between BR and New Orleans in the event the Mississippi reaches flood stage, which it has. The flooding of the Atchafalaya River basin is to prevent the levees along the Mississippi from overtopping or breaching from intense pressure from the high waters in the river, which could be catastrophic.
I hope this helps. I suppose I should turn this comment into a post.