Morganza

Just a few weeks ago they said they weren't going to have to open it.  Turns out maybe the river is deciding for them.

Boyett said that current river forecasts project the river overtopping the structure in two weeks, and that water at that height would render the spillway unusable. The Corps would prefer to open it a few days earlier to allow a controlled release. That would entail filling the basin with a foot of water per day for two or three days to give wildlife a chance to escape.

They really really do not want to have to open Morganza.  It flows through land that people have gotten used to using for farming, hunting camps, and even transient homes in some places. It's serious when they decide to do this. And this year's river flood is as serious as it's ever been.

The Mississippi River has set flood records this year. Rainy conditions across the country have dumped gallons upon gallons of water into tributaries that feed into the Mississippi, which has been in flood stage at Baton Rouge since early January. The persistent high water has broken the record set in 1927 for most days in flood stage at the capital city. Though hemmed in by the levees, the river is forecast to remain in flood stage well into summer.

Summer flooding isn't unheard of but usually the river doesn't stay so high that late into the year.  Hurricane Season is right around the corner. At least that's expected to be "near normal." Of course, that's plenty bad enough.