The Mississippi River is cresting at Natchez.
The Steele Bayou Structure Gates are open.
The Yazoo Backwater is currently cresting at 96.5’ which has 486,000 total acres underwater in the MS South Delta including 194,000 acres of cropland.
MISSISSIPPI RIVER
Flood Current Predicted
Gage Stage Stage Crest & Date
Cairo (Ohio Rv) 40’ 42.7’ Crested at 51.6’ on 2/22/20
Memphis 34’ 30.8’ Crested at 35.5’ on 2/25/20
Helena 44’ 41.2’ Crested at 43.9’ on 2/27/20
Arkansas City 37’ 39.1’ Cresting at 39.8’ on 2/29/20
Greenville 48’ 50.5’ Crested at 51.7’ on 2/29/20
Vicksburg 43’ 48.2’ Cresting near 48.2’
Natchez 48’ 55.4’ Cresting near 55.4’
RIVER FORECAST NEXT 28 DAYS
The NWS has unofficially looked at the 16-day rainfall forecast and the River is going to drop below Flood Stage and continue to slowly fall.
Arkansas City crested at 39.8’ and will fall to 36’ in 5 days, then slowly fall to 34’ in 4 weeks.
Greenville crested at 51.7’ and will fall to 47’ in 7 days, then slowly fall to 46’ in 4 weeks.
Vicksburg is cresting at 48.1’ and will fall to 44’ in 7 days, then slowly fall to 41’ in 4 weeks.
RIVER ROADS IMPACTED
Lower Lake Ferguson Road in Greenville is flooded – it goes under at Greenville Gage 44’.
Upper Lake Ferguson Road in Greenville is flooded – it goes under at Greenville Gage 50’.
Hwy 465 near Eagle Lake on the unprotected side of the levee is flooded – it goes underwater at Vicksburg Gage 46.5’. MDOT closed this roadway Sunday February 23, 2020.
BACKWATER
The Backwater (landside) is at 96.47’ and the riverside is at 96.34’.
The Steele Bayou Structure Gates are open. However, the South Mississippi Delta has received heavy rainfall this morning causing the Backwater to creep up a little.
The Yazoo Backwater is currently cresting at 96.5’ which has 486,000 total acres underwater in the MS South Delta including 194,000 acres of cropland.
The Backwater of 96.5’ is the 2nd highest Backwater Event we have had (following 98.2’ in 2019) since the completion of the Yazoo Backwater Levee and Drainage Structures in 1978.
BACKWATER ROADS IMPACTED
The Backwater is currently at 96.5’.
Blanton Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 92’.
Spanish Fort Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 92.5’.
Goose Lake Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 93.4’.
Low Water Bridge Road is flooded – it goes under at Backwater of 93.7’.
Hwy 465 near Eagle Lake on the protected side of the levee from the YBW Levee to the Eagle Lake Gin is flooded – it goes underwater at Backwater 95’. MDOT closed this roadway Sunday February 23, 2020.
Hwy 16 between Rolling Fork and Holly Bluff is flooded – it goes under at 96’.
Satartia Road east of Holly Bluff is open but goes under just above 96.5’.
Eagle Lake Shore Road on the south side of Eagle Lake is open but goes under just above 96.5’.
EAGLE LAKE RESIDENTS FLOOD FIGHT ACTIVITIES
Eagle Lake residents and farmers on the north side of Eagle Lake have blocked off culverts and notches in the Brunswick Circle Levee to help prevent flooding of homes and property on the north side of Eagle Lake.
Eagle Lake residents have blocked off culverts under Hwy 465 to help protect homes and property of the east side of Eagle Lake.
Eagle Lake residents on the south side of Eagle Lake have blocked off culverts under Eagle Lake Shore Road to prevent flooding of homes and damage to the banks of Eagle Lake.
ACCESS TO EAGLE LAKE
MDOT closed Hwy 465 at Eagle Lake on both sides of the Yazoo Backwater Levee from Hwy 61 to the Eagle Lake Gin on Sunday February 23, 2020.
Eagle Lake Residents in light vehicles (coming from Vicksburg)
Eagle Lake residents in light vehicles are allowed to travel either:
(1) travel up Hwy 61 north to Onward, then west on Hwy 1, then south on Hwy 465 on top of the Mainline MS River Levee back to Eagle Lake (~40 miles of asphalt pavement); or
(2) the Yazoo Backwater Levee from Hwy 61 and then the Brunswick Extension Levee through Tara Wildlife back to Eagle Lake (~24 miles of limestone gravel).
NOTE: Eagle Lake Shore Road on the south side of Eagle Lake has been blocked off coming off the levee near Tara Wildlife.
I HAVE DRIVEN BOTH ROUTES – I WOULD SUGGEST TAKING OPTION 1 (PAVED ROUTE) – This path is longer but the pavement is in much better condition than the 24 miles of rough gravel.
Heavy Trucks & Equipment over 8 Tons (coming from Vicksburg)
Heavy trucks and equipment must take Hwy 61 north up to Onward, MS, then west on Hwy 1, then south on Hwy 465 along the top of the Mainline MS River Levee to access Eagle Lake.
YAZOO BACKWATER PUMPS
If we had the Yazoo Backwater Pumps in place – instead of cresting at 93.3’ back on February 2nd – the Pumps would have lowered the crest by 5.3’ down to 88’.
Instead of 380,000 acres flooded – the Pumps would have prevented 154,000 acres from flooding lowering the total land flooded to 226,000 acres.
Attached you will find a 10-day MS River Forecast.
Peter Nimrod
Chief Engineer
MS Levee Board
(662)334-4813