HENDERSON, La. (KLFY) – Now that the Bonnet Carre Spillway is on schedule to open, Henderson mayor Sherbin Collette is hopeful the Morganza Spillway will soon follow.
Mayor Collette says it’s not quite the time to panic, but he’s keeping a watchful eye on the river stages, and says those who live in the lower lying areas inside the Atchafalaya Basin should as well.
“We been watching it, I been watching it for 2 or 3 months. It’s just abnormal high waters for this time of the year,” he said.
Collette always is keeping a watchful eye on the river stages throughout the region.
“The snow in the upper mountains didn’t melt yet. I mean it’s still real cold up there, that’s our ‘Spring Rise.’ The ‘Spring Rise’ is not here, this is extra rain we got early in the season,” said Collette.
He says where the Ohio River hits the Mississippi at Cairo Illinois is the gauge most fishermen look at.
The Mississippi River then meets the Atchafalya River at Simmesport.
The Mississippi River then meets the Atchafalya River at Simmesport.
The Cairo Illinois is set to crest at 56 1/2 feet, which 16 1/2 feet above flood stage by March 2.
“If it stays there, it will probably be a moderate flood. It will flood. And if it gets to 25 feet or 28 feet, it gets real serious,” said Collette.
At McGee’s Louisiana Swamp Tours & Adventures, they tell News 10 the rising river levels won’t really affect their business, but they’re still closely monitoring the levels.
“So we’re actually elevated higher, our docks can move back and forth with the water levels, so we’re always able to run our swamp tours, airboat tours and canoe rentals,” said Robert Donadieu, General Manager of McGee’s Louisiana Swamp Tours & Adventures.
The business is located on Lake Henderson, which is part of the Atchafalaya Basin.
The Atchafalaya River just a few miles east.
The Atchafalaya River just a few miles east.
“If they do continue to rise, we could see flooding here inside the Atchalafaya.
Now all that water will be held inside by the levee, but we will see water levels continue to rise, and maybe affect some other people and camps in the area, but right now we’re okay,” said Donadieu.
Again it’s not time to panic yet, but if you have a camp or live in those lower lying areas inside the Basin you may want to get prepared.
Collette hopes residents continue to watch the river stages along with your local news.
Track the river levels here on our website.
