Saltwater in the Mississippi River threatening huge tree farm near Belle Chasse, Louisiana
9/21/2023 6:49:33 PM
CATEGORIES:
Agriculture
Business & Industry
Plants & Wildlife
Relief, Response & Restrictions
Water Supply & Quality
AFFECTED AREAS:
Plaquemines Parish, LA
Belle Chasse, LA
Start Date: 9/21/2023
-
Drought and less water flowing in the Mississippi River meant less fresh water in the river to keep saltwater from pushing its way upriver. A huge tree nursery near Belle Chasse needs about 100,000 gallons of fresh water daily to irrigate the half a million trees, but the wedge of saltwater has gotten dangerously close. The week of Sept. 25, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will expand an underwater barrier that was originally constructed in July to slow the movement of the saltwater. The expansion should take about two weeks and will result in a sill 60 feet high and about 2,200 feet across the river. A notch will be left in the sill 620 wide and 55 feet deep to allow oceangoing vessels to pass through.
The Mississippi’s lowest recorded flow occurred in 1988 when it was just 120,000 cubic feet per second. Saltwater reached upriver to Kenner, La. on the outskirts of New Orleans. This year, it is forecast to fall to 130,000 cubic feet per second.
The Washington Post (D.C.), Sept 21, 2023
Sources
