The US Army Corps of Engineers has started closing the Bonnet Carre Spillway. This is the first year the spillway has been opened twice, due to high Mississippi River levels, but Corps spokesperson Matt Roe says the river is finally starting to go down.
“The river is below that 21-feet mark at the Bonnet Carre Spillway structure, which is what we were waiting for the safety of the workers,” said Roe.
The environmental effects of opening has resulted in a negative impact for the seafood industry in St. Bernard Parish as well as shuttering Mississippi beaches. Roe says the process on the closure began this morning.
“They’re going to close about ten bays today and close more bays each day,” said Roe.
Roe says the closure isn’t a speedy, press-of-a-button process, but closure should be completed by the first week in August.
“We’re thinking seven to ten days, so long as the weather holds out and everything’s good,” said Roe.
