Atchafalaya Basin Waits For Mississippi Flood Waters

From NPR.org

The innocent victims of the flood

This Mississippi flooding is quickly getting depressing to me. Not only has it taken human lives and homes further up north, the toll it's taking on the wild animals that had no idea this was coming (or did they?) saddens me.

Examples

On River Road Jefferson Parish wildlife authorities shot a 10 foot alligator FIVE TIMES IN THE HEAD because it was "lurking closely" by The Rivershack in a canal near the bar. I have emailed the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries on this one. Check out the big, fat "wildlife enforcement officer" with the gun. He's disgusting.

A group of deer are shown swimming thru the flooded spillway 4 miles south of Morganza and appear to be totally wigged out once they reach dry land.

ANOTHER gator shot

Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says "This is a critical time for the black bears. They're coming out of their dens with cubs. You can't send a tsunami into the Atchafalaya Basin and expect those cubs to survive."

"This hasn't happened in almost 40 years. These bears don't know where to go."

So at least some of the bears, as well as other wildlife like deer, snakes and even alligators, are likely to encroach on populated areas.

"Many will go into thickets and wooded lots outside the basin until the water recedes; nature is an adaptable system," Barham said. "But if a bear gets confused and winds up on the 50-yardline of the (University of Louisiana at Lafayette) stadium, we're going to get him."

Barham said his agents will trap and relocate any bears that encroach on heavily populated areas.

"We're going to do our best to save these bears," he said. "We'll come get the bear and relocated it to a safe place."

He said some relocations would likely take place in the Tensas refuge.

Attention Jefferson Parish Wildlife "officials":
Barham emphasized that no wildlife other than snakes or wild hogs can be shot by Louisiana residents during the flood event.

In Audubon Park, a Bird Island has mysteriously been abandoned by birds. One commentor suggests that the birds somehow intuitively knew what was happening with the river. Time will tell.

Swamp Tour!

Well, the appropriate "powers that be" decided (at last) to open the Morganza Spillway Saturday afternoon. There's a lot of sadness happening in the area and throughout the country with a few exceptions, as usual.


Photo courtesy of the Washington Times.

I found this to be a "lose/lose" situation. I have a heavy heart for the humans and wildlife that are going to be hurt because of this decision, but it was a call that had to be made. My thoughts and prayers are for all of those who've suffered because of the Mississippi River flooding.


photo courtesty of uk's dailymail.

A few months ago I found a Groupon for a Honey Island Swamp tour (2 for the price of one!) and jumped on it. Having lived in Southeast Louisiana for over thirty years, I have never taken a swamp tour (yet tempted by all of the signs I see in Slidell), and was very curious about what the tour would reveal.

Offered by Pearl River Eco Tours - located on the far eastern edge of Slidell - the two hour tour was very enjoyable and informative.



We were lucky that a cool front had entered the area overnight and the weather was perfect.....


Garden of Eden Perfect: low humidity, cool breeze and a lot of sunshine.

The facility itself is easy to find and pretty much nondescript, not a tourist trap at all. What follows are pix taken by my hubby and me. Enjoy. (click on pictures for larger versions)


Our tour was in the late afternoon, so we didn't see many birds, much to my disappointment. But I managed to catch this guy in flight.




There were several hungry gators along our tour, most of them small (5-6 feet in length).


The elephant ears were huge!


To get them closer to the boat, the guide fed them marshmallows and pieces of red hot dogs.




The bark of a cypress tree.


Tiny water beetles coming to the surface for air.






I thought this plant looked like a jellyfish.


Our guide informed us that the correct name for this plant is the swamp lotus.




Blue Heron


I was wondering what they used the bamboo sticks for before we boarded the boat!


This once was a cypress tree that was 30 feet in diameter.



The people on our boat were from as far away as Hong Kong and as nearby as Picayune, Mississippi. It is a great treat to go into the swamp and get away from everything. At one point on the tour our guide turned of the boat's engine and we just floated down a lush, green bayou and enjoyed the peace and quiet of the place. The only sound was that of the birds and the breeze.

If you are ever interested in a swamp tour, here's their website. A tour has to be booked ahead of time due to the popularity. Have fun and bring the sunscreen!

Historic Flooding on the Mississippi RIver

Mississippi River Water Diverted to the Atchafalaya River via the Old River Control Complex and Morganza Spillway in Louisiana   by Wilma Subra May 8, 2011   The rising Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River water levels will reach record flood state levels in Louisiana by the week of May 22, 2011. The spring flooding along the Mississippi River was increased due to excessive rainfall in the middle Mississippi River Valley over the last couple of weeks.   Thirty percent of the flow of the Mississippi River is diverted into the Atchafalaya River via the Old River Control Complex northeast of Simmesport, Louisiana. The increase in flow of the Mississippi River has resulted in increased quantities of water being diverted into the Atchafalaya River via the Old River Control Complex. The increase in quantity of water has resulted in increased flooding along the Atchafalaya River from the Old River Control Complex southward to Morgan City, Louisiana. Low Sill Structure of the Old River Control Complex with water roaring through the open gates. On May 7, 2011, the Low Sill Structure and Auxiliary Structure of the Old River Control Complex, carried the largest portion of the Mississippi River diverted flow into the Atchafalaya River. The water roared through the structures and the structures vibrated.   Pelicans floating on the water feasted on fish in the river water as it exited the structure and fishermen in boats and on the bank caught fish down stream of the structure. Pump jacks pumped petroleum products into storage tanks and service companies drilled new wells in the area around the Old River Control Complex. Tug boats and loaded barges were docked along the Old River on the Mississippi River side waiting to travel through the locks to the Atchafalaya River. Mississippi River water roaring into the Atchafalaya Basin after passing through the Old River Control Structure. Downstream of the Old River Control Complex, east of Melville, the Morganza Spillway waited to be opened to transfer additional Mississippi River floodwaters into the Atchafalaya Basin. The Morganza Spillway has only been opened once since it was constructed. The Morganza Spillway was opened in 1973 to lower the river stage on the Mississippi River.   The Morganza Spillway is scheduled to be open on May 12, 2011. The Morganza Spillway in conjunction with the Old River Control Complex will transfer 50 to 54 percent of the Mississippi River floodwater flow into the Atchafalaya River and Basin. The opening of the Morganza Spillway is to lower the Mississippi River stage downstream in the Baton Rouge and New Orleans areas and reduce pressure on the levee system.   The increase in quantity of Mississippi River flood waters being transferred into the Atchafalaya River Basin will result in extensive flooding in communities throughout the Atchafalaya River and Atchafalaya Basin and in back water areas. The Morganza Spillway waiting to be opened. On May 7, 2011, the roads in the area of the Morganza Spillway were filled with people moving their belongings and furniture out of the area to be flooded when the Morganza Spillway is opened. Trucks were hauling sand to communities to be used to fill sandbags. People were observing the height of the water on the Mississippi River side of the spillway. Egrets were feeding along the edges of the rising waters. Combines were harvesting ripe wheat from the fields that will be flooded by the opening of the spillway.   Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of agricultural crops will be destroyed in the fields when the Morganza Spillway is opened. These crops consist of corn (2 to 4 feet in height), sugar cane (2 to 3 feet in height), soybeans (6 inches) and unharvested ripe wheat. In addition homes and businesses will be flooded, agricultural land will be covered with river silt and seafood species in the coastal areas will be damaged by the fresh waters from the Mississippi River. The damage and destruction will be extensive and wide spread. Corn fields in the Atchafalaya Basin. Future progress reports will be issued as a result of the opening of the Morganza Spillway and the opening of the Bonnet Carre spillway on May 9, 2011.     Learn More About Us! -LEANWEB.ORG- -LMRK.ORG-

 

Mississippi River Cams

Rock Island, Illinois

http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/MVRCams/RiverCam.asp

 

St. Paul, Minnesota

http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?nid=3742

 

Wabasha, Minnesota (very nice)

http://www.wxow.com/Global/link.asp?L=481451

 

Waterloo, Iowa

http://rivercam2258.viewnetcam.com:50000/nphMotionJpeg?Resolution=640x480&Quality=Clarity

 

Vicksburg, Mississippi (scroll down on page)

http://web.vicksburg.org/Vicksburg/Default.aspx?tabid=264

 

Baton Rouge

http://files.wafb.com/skycam/skycam.jpg

 

New Orleans

http://www.nola.com/rivercam/