May 17 - Current News UPDATE : Morganza Spillway Knowledge and Insight - The Great Mississippi River Flood 2011

Wow, I thought it was a given that people understood how a spillway comes to be, along a major river. Just by looking at the land layout, you can see that the Morganza Spillway is at the head of a natural floodplain. Seems a majority of people don't understand the reasons the spillway is there.  

First of all, the only reason it is a fertile region for crops, is because it previously was constantly flooded by the Mississippi River.

Second, levees were built all along the Mississippi to keep it in its' banks and to make it the natural commerce route that it is today.

Third, at some point people found that the Mississippi was prone to major flooding and to protect the major commerce centers of Baton Rouge/New Orleans, looked for the natural outlets that were taken before the system of levees.

Fourth, all the people in the natural floodplain path were compensated for their land and belongings prior to the construction of the Morganza Spillway. People coming afterwards to the floodplain region buying land, would know about natural flood aspects from the spillway through common knowledge, or statements on paperwork when buying land/setting up residence.

Fifth, a large amount of people are saying that it is a mistake and mean to open the spillway gates.
1. An EXTREME amount of commerce, homes, belongings, maybe even lives...will be spared by taking the pressure off the levees downstream and trying to prevent them from giving way. A benefit ratio of 6,000 to 1.
2. It would be the rivers' natural path!
3. Even if they didn't open the gates, the water was two feet from the top of the spillway! In a couple of days it would be coming over the spillway anyway, just in an uncontrolled manor which would make the preparations down the floodplain harder to manage not being able to accuratly calculate the water inbound. Plus, there would be the chance of the Morganza Spillway being compromised when topped, which could mean a complete failure and all the cities in the path wiped out.

Sunday at noon, 4 floodgates were open. Early Monday 9 were open, with reports of 2 more to be opened soon. All major sources were reporting 11 open most of the afternoon. This was strange because video taken today showed 12 gates open at the Morganza Spillway.

Crews are still working around the clock at Stephensville, La, to protect it from floodwaters that have already arrived. Please visit an ad, Thank You.