Latest Mississippi River Delta news: Jan. 6, 2016

Corps recommends opening Bonnet Carre Spillway, possibly beginning Saturday
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 5, 2016.
*features John Lopez, Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
“The Bonnet Carre Spillway in St. Charles Parish should be opened in the next few days to reduce the height of the rising Mississippi River that’s threatening levees in the New Orleans area, funneling a portion of the river’s flow into Lake Pontchartrain, Col. Richard Hansen, the commander of the New Orleans District of the Army Corps of Engineers announced Tuesday (Jan. 5)…” (read more)

Corps recommends opening Bonnet Carre Spillway, possibly beginning Saturday (video)
NOLA.com. Jan. 5, 2016.
“Corps recommends opening Bonnet Carre Spillway, possibly beginning Saturday…” (watch here).

John Bel Edwards names Johnny Bradberry to head coastal restoration authority
By Kevin Litten, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 6, 2016.
“Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards has chosen Johnny Bradberry to lead the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the agency charged with overseeing billions of dollars of state and federal funding used to manage the state’s coastline…” (read more).

Army Corps to begin checking levees daily, Bonnet Carre announcement expected Wednesday
By Kevin Frey, WAFB. Jan. 6, 2016.
“Army Corps to begin checking levees daily, Bonnet Carre announcement expected Wednesday…” (read more).

Flood Warning Issued For New Orleans Area
By Tegan Wendland, WWNO. Jan. 5, 2016.
“The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Mississippi River in New Orleans and surrounding areas, effective January 12. This comes as floodwater from devastating winter rain in the Midwest makes its way south…” (read more).

Flood warning issued for New Orleans, surrounding area after river reaches 14 feet
By Juan Sanchez, WDSU. Jan. 5, 2016.
“New Orleans and the surrounding area are under a flood warning, the National Weather Service said Tuesday…” (read more).

The historic Mississippi River flood: Before and after, from space
By Jason Samenow and Angela Fritz, The Washington Post. Jan. 5, 2016.
“The torrential rains that drenched Illinois and Missouri in late December raised the Mississippi River to its highest crest on record south of St. Louis this week. The before and after imagery of the river from this region, obtained by NASA’s Terra satellite, is stunning…” (read more).

Draft of $687 million spending plan for Louisiana coastal projects and planning in coming fiscal year now available for public comment
By Amy Wold, The Advocate. Jan. 5, 2016.
“A draft plan for how the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority proposes to spend $687 million on coastal projects and planning in the next fiscal year is now available for public comment…” (read more)

Q&A: What does the rising river mean for SE LA?
By Carl Arredondo and Alexandra Cranford, WWLTV.com. Jan. 5, 2016.
“Alexandra Cranford, Carl Arredondo and Don Dubuc answered some questions about the effects of rising water and the possible opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway. Here are their answers:…” (read more)

Officials Weigh Options as Mississippi Floodwaters Head South
By Tim Loh, Bloomberg Business. Jan. 5, 2016.
“As floodwaters move south along the Mississippi River, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers is weighing steps it could take to prevent widespread flooding from southern Missouri down to the Gulf Coast…” (read more).

Flood warning issued for New Orleans once river levels reach flood stage Tuesday (Jan. 12)
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 5, 2016.
“The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the New Orleans metropolitan area as the Mississippi River reached 14 feet Tuesday (Jan. 5) at the Carrollton Gage. The river will reach 16 feet on Saturday and 17 feet, flood stage, on Jan. 12…” (read more)

Riverfront parking, casual levee use not affected by Mississippi River emergency order, state official says
By Stephanie Riegel, Greater Baton Rouge Business Report. Jan. 5, 2016.
“An emergency order issued Monday by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority restricting traffic on the Mississippi River levee and parking within 300 feet of the levee centerline is apparently not as restrictive as it may sound…” (read more).

Christmas tree collection to begin Thursday for residents in Orleans Parish
By Juan Sanchez, WDSU. Jan. 5, 2016.
“NEW ORLEANS — City officials will begin collecting Christmas trees for coastal restoration on Thursday…” (read more).