The Mississippi River Commission total system brief for today (January 7, 2016) is attached.
A photo of the Bonnet Carre Spillway take from a drone by award winning photographer P.J. Hahn is also attached. In the background of the photo are ships anchored in the Bonnet Carre anchorage, the New Orleans Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots plan on clearing the anchorage out tomorrow to prepare for the opening of the Spillway Structure over the weekend. The Bonnet Carre Spillway is scheduled to be opened at 1000 hours on Sunday, January 10, 2016.
The Mississippi River has now crested as far south as Caruthersville, Missouri and is expected to crest at Memphis over the weekend as the crest works its way towards New Orleans.
Please see the attached Memo in which the Commanding General of the Corps’ Mississippi Valley Division, Major General Michael Wehr, authorizes the spillway opening and the full briefing packet (also attached).
