PROJECT ALERT NOTICE () Flooding in along main stem Ohio and Mississippi River

Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2019 11:26:43 EST

Summary: Major Flooding is occurring in the Ohio and Mississippi River Basins with flooding on the Mainsteam lower Ohio and Mississippi Rivers expected to last weeks.

With supersaturated soil conditions, continued rain in the Ohio and Mississippi River Basins has pushed the main stem Ohio and lower Mississippi Rivers to major flood levels. USGS continues to make flow measurements on both the tributaries and main stem Ohio and Mississippi Rivers in support of the missions of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), National Weather Service, Tennessee Valley Authority, and other state and local agencies. Regular flood coordination calls are being held with Federal Water Agencies in the geographic area comprised of the Ohio River and Mississippi Valley Division Corps of Engineers, with the National Flood Hazard Coordinator representing USGS. Currently, USACE anticipates operating the Bonnet Carre Spillway later next week to divert Mississippi River water around New Orleans and into Lake Pontchartrain. Although, not certain, the trigger flow at Red River Landing may be reached to initiate operation of the Morganza Spillway which diverts water from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya River. This diversion would be conducted to protect levees downstream in the Baton Rouge area. Morganza Floodway has only been operated twice (1973 and 2011) since its construction in 1954. Current crests forecasts for Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois are for 56.5 feet beginning February 27 and lasting at that height until March 6. A crest if 56.5 feet would be tied for the third highest crest for that location since records began in 1844.

National Flood and High Flow Conditions