Latest Mississippi River Delta new: Jan. 26, 2016

Bonnet Carre Spillway closing begins as river slowly drops
By Mark Schleifstein, The Times-Picayune. Jan. 25, 2016.
“The Army Corps of Engineers began closing the first 10 of 210 bays in the Bonnet Carre Spillway weir at Norco on Monday (Jan. 25), as the flow of the Mississippi River continued to drop at the Carrollton gauge in New Orleans. The corps hopes to complete the closure of the structure, which diverts river water to Lake Pontchartrain to reduce the height and speed of water stressing levees in the New Orleans area, in seven to 10 days, spokesman Ricky Boyett said…” (read more)

Corps begins closing gates on Bonnet Carre Spillway; could have all gates shut by Feb. 2
By Amy Wold, The Advocate. Jan. 25, 2016.
“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began closing bays at the Bonnet Carre Spillway on Monday as the water level along the Mississippi River continues to fall slowly…” (read more)

HUD awards $233.8M to Louisiana and N.O. under NDRC
By WWL.com. Jan. 25, 2016.
“At a ceremony at Mirabeau Gardens in New Orleans today, HUD Regional Administrator Tammye Treviño, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and the Rockefeller Foundation announced that a total of $233.8 million had been awarded to the State of Louisiana and the City of New Orleans under the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC). Nationally, a total of $1 billion in grants was awarded to 13 States and cities, all of whom will use the funds for resilient housing and infrastructure projects in areas that were impacted by recent major disasters…” (read more)