2011 Mississippi River Spring Floods

[HelmutVII]

_ How do levees finally give in---there was talk of the ones around LSUBR being vulnerable from the stress or dampness/wetness????

Amongst other ways they are over topped or a sand boil develops on the land side. The sand boil, is formed by the water finding a path in the ground under the levee to the land side. This creates flowing water that washes out a larger path. They usually ring the sand boil with sand bags up to a level where the water stops flowing which can be as high as the level of the water in the river.

The bank can be eroded away on the outside of a curve in the river too.

[CajunRed]

Scary stuff, Helmut. Thanks again for your comments and updates. That degree you worked so hard for many years ago was indeed worth it.

From "the Advocate" on Tuesday May 10

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/121535339.html

Kind of like waiting for a Hurricane except you know exactly where it's going to land. you know it's going to bad but not how bad.

igeaux.mobi

[Zeebart21]

_ The request to allow Morganza to be opened has been made. Officials anticipate that the answer will be YES...with the actual opening to occur on Thursday.


igeaux.mobi _

WOW! I will have to cross the basin when I head home Friday...that will be something I have never seen before...

I would imagine we will be seeing deer, bear, and other critters in some awfully odd places.

Beware.

Z

[VObserver]

Z,

I crossed the basin the first week it opened, which happened to coincide with the 1973 opening of Morganza. If this one is like that, you will not believe the water level..

[Zeebart21]

_ Z,

I crossed the basin the first week it opened, which happened to coincide with the 1973 opening of Morganza. If this one is like that, you will not believe the water level.. _

Vo, if you look closely, you can still see the water stains on the pilings when you cross Henderson swamp. Never thought Id see it that high again... maybe we will?

Z

[moorecajun]

_ How do levees finally give in---there was talk of the ones around LSUBR being vulnerable from the stress or dampness/wetness???? Who makes the final decision as to whether to blow a portion of a levee and where----This is so interesting and your knowledge so great of the situation!!! Thanks for your time and effort---Had I not changed my major muchos tiempos and after spending 13 straight years in college ---NO MAS!!!! Nice way to make a living!!! _

But didn't all that time and major changing make you more diverse! lol

[biged05]

Helmut,

You're doing a great job explaining all this stuff. Keep up the great work. I still don't have time to write anything up often, but I at least read the posts.

[Boomer]

_ Helmut,

You're doing a great job explaining all this stuff. Keep up the great work. I still don't have time to write anything up often, but I at least read the posts. _

$$$$$$$$$-I think there is some 'GREEN" in your posting---Since the Softball stadium is done ---get Frenchie or any of our photo dudes to get some great FPS for you (Flood photos) Then you trace the snowfall and other factors that have led to this along with a brief history of flooding of the Mississippi and get that in print---Now just watch all the crap happen and record it!!!! If I still had my old job I could have printed it for you---If you want, get Dr. Fun to get some human side issues and Johnny Boy as your Miss. reporter!!! Of course you mention most money from book sales would go to TAF ---Later you say that you mis-spoke and meant RCAF!!!!!!

[cjr3888]

Any way to look up the mean sea level for certain areas?

[CajunMarine81]

Gotta be global warming and W's fault.

igeaux.mobi