Army Corps revises timeline, says recent efforts have slowed saltwater intrusion on Miss. River - WBRZ

Army Corps revises timeline, says recent efforts have slowed saltwater intrusion on Miss. River

Latest Weather Blog

NEW ORLEANS - Efforts to slow the incursion of saltwater in the Mississippi River have succeeded, to an extent, but the "wedge" is still moving upstream, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

A revised timeline released on Thursday shows the saltwater flow will reach water treatment facilities in Belle Chasse, in Plaquemines parish, about two weeks later than anticipated, and in St. Bernard Parish a week-and-a-half later than projected.

But the timeline remains the same for places like New Orleans, Gretna and East Jefferson Parish.

Updates based on the latest forecast:

- Boothville: No change
- Port Sulphur: No change
- Pointe A La Hache: No change
- Belle Chasse: Oct. 27 (previously Oct. 13)
- Dalcour: Nov. 1 (previously Oct. 17)
- St. Bernard: Nov. 8 (previously Oct. 28)
- New Orleans Algiers: Not anticipated to experience chloride levels exceeding 250 ppm (previously Nov. 23)
- Gretna: Not anticipated to experience chloride levels exceeding 250 ppm (previously Nov. 26)
- West Jefferson: No change
- New Orleans Carrollton: No change
- East Jefferson: No change

The change in forecast is largely the result of augmentation of the existing underwater sill and increased flows of the Red River, requiring less diversion at the Old River Control Structure.

The sill is an underwater levee, essentially -- something that makes it more difficult for the low-sitting saltwater to move upstream.

Trending News

The Corps of Engineers recently raised an already-established sill from an elevation of -55 feet to -30 feet, though a channel for ships was left in place.

Communities in southern Plaquemines Parish are already coping with saltwater intrusion.

The Corps is barging water to the Port Sulphur and Pointe A La Hache treatment facilities to blend with water from the intakes to bring the chloride down to treatable levels. To date, USACE has delivered more than 9 million gallons of water. USACE has also mobilized Reverse Osmosis Units to support processing at water treatment facilities impacted by saltwater intrusion.

More News

Desktop News Click to open Continuous News in a sidebar that updates in real-time.

- Man wanted across multiple parishes barricades self inside Baton Rouge apartment
- Facing pushback, council drops proposal that would have put taxpayers on the...
- Metro Council votes not to hear BRAVE Cave report from BRPD chief,...
- After hiring firm to help clean up State Police, agency unveils plan...
- State lawmaker requests investigation into DCFS following whistleblower's termination