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Life on the Mississippi Mark Twain 1883 cover
Waterford NPS river traffic
Mississippi River Traffic visible near Waterford Nuclear Reactor

In Reserve Louisiana the Mississippi was at 23.83 ft at 3 am 16 Jan 2016 CST and expected to crest at 24 ft, compared to 23.99 ft on 03/20/1997. In 2011 the crest was 23.97 ft on 05/18/2011

In 1997, the flooding of the Mississippi River only slightly greater than today: “While authorities were battling the overturned barge at Baton Rouge, 42 barges broke loose near La Place, narrowly missing the Waterford Three nuclear power plant intake valves. Runaway barges tore up wharves, intake facilities and loading platforms on their escape from captivity.” (Read more from NOAA below)
Waterford nuclear levee
Waterford Nuclear Reactor. “Levee” to the right. There is supposedly a concrete barrier at the nuclear power station, but could it survive pressure from a levee breach and run-away barges? The Bonnet Carre spillway facing Waterford could increase levee erosion pace.

Reuters reports:
“Barge accidents rise on flood-swollen Mississippi River Posted:Fri, 15 Jan 2016 21:55:59 GMT
CHICAGO (Reuters) – The U.S. Coast Guard temporarily halted shipping traffic on the Mississippi River in New Orleans on Friday after a tow boat struck stationary barges in a fleeting area, marking at least the fifth barge accident this week on the flood-swollen river.” http://feeds.reuters.com/~r/reuters/environment/~3/8H9R4_daGYA/story01.htm

New Orleans, barge in Lower 9th Ward, Photo by Infrogmation, December 2005
New Orleans, barge in Lower 9th Ward, Photo by Infrogmation, December 2005, CC-BY-2.5

“ING 4727 was a barge belonging to Ingram Barge Company that became infamous when it went over or through a levee and landed in a residential neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana during Hurricane Katrina… During and right after the storm, ING 4727 was moved around by currents in the flooded neighborhood, smashing houses and cars beneath it in an area of several city blocks… A week after the storm Army Corps of Engineers project manager Al Naomi gave his preliminary impression, saying, “One would think it’s the barge that did it,” and confirming that the barge striking the floodwalls would have “precipitated a tremendous collapse”….“https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ING_4727

“The most significant problem with high volume flow on the Mississippi, aside from public safety and welfare, is the peril to commercial traffic in treacherous currents and the sharp bends in the river. Barge traffic is essential to life support systems such as public utility plants.
[…]
With the current increasingly treacherous around the bends in the river below Red River Landing, the Coast Guard Traffic Safety Division enforced strict regulation upon the length of barge tows and the number of securing lines from the onset of the record volume flow. Even with those precautions, there were 35 traffic incidents between March 13 and April 24 involving 502 barges!

Of major concern to civic planners and emergency management officials are the 28 petrochemical plants and the nuclear power plant on a 13 mile stretch of the river in St. Charles Parish. That concern took on very real consequences as the river crest moved through that area during the night of March 19. While authorities were battling the overturned barge at Baton Rouge, 42 barges broke loose near La Place, narrowly missing the Waterford Three nuclear power plant intake valves. Runaway barges tore up wharves, intake facilities and loading platforms on their escape from captivity. In the middle of this wild chase, the release of amonia from a ruptured pipeline necessitated the evacuation of a dozen homes along the river.

Before the night was over 134 barges were running loose in the swift current. Coast Guard crews who were on the river enforcing safety regulations and assisted by industrial tugs were able to secure all of the barges within a few hours avoiding a disaster of unprecedented proportions.” Excerpt from: “FLOODS ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI: AN HISTORICAL ECONOMIC OVERVIEW Paul S. Trotter, G. Alan Johnson, Robert Ricks, David R. Smith,NWSFO, New Orleans/Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Donnel Woods, WSO/COE, Vicksburg, Mississippi http://www.srh.noaa.gov/topics/attach/html/ssd98-9.htm

Status of the Mississippi in the region, and historic crests:
Red River Landing, 3 am 16 Jan 2016, 60.1 ft, expected to rise to 60.5 ft. Compare to 61.61 ft on 03/24/1997.
(1) 63.39 ft on 05/18/2011
(2) 61.61 ft on 03/24/1997
(3) 60.94 ft on 05/14/1927
(4) 60.85 ft on 05/12/2011
(5) 60.70 ft on 04/24/2008
(6) 60.52 ft on 06/05/1983
(7) 59.89 ft on 04/29/1945
(8) 59.19 ft on 04/23/1979
(9) 58.99 ft on 02/27/1937
(10) 58.79 ft on 05/15/1922
(11) 58.22 ft on 05/13/1973
(12) 58.05 ft on 05/31/2009
(13) 57.19 ft on 03/04/1950
(14) 56.80 ft on 06/15/1995
(15) 56.73 ft on 04/15/1975
(16) 56.69 ft on 05/11/1912
(17) 56.40 ft on 05/11/1994
(18) 56.37 ft on 01/24/1991
(19) 56.15 ft on 07/26/2015
(20) 56.14 ft on 05/29/1984
(21) 55.94 ft on 03/02/1916
(22) 55.89 ft on 06/08/1929
(23) 55.89 ft on 03/05/1932
(24) 55.10 ft on 02/03/2005
(25) 54.98 ft on 06/04/2002
(26) 54.54 ft on 06/12/1990
(27) 54.24 ft on 05/18/1944
(28) 54.14 ft on 05/20/1920
(29) 54.07 ft on 05/08/1913
(30) 53.72 ft on 02/17/1974
(31) 53.69 ft on 05/14/1897
(32) 53.68 ft on 02/15/1999
(33) 53.57 ft on 04/08/1903
(34) 53.45 ft on 05/21/1993
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=LIX&gage=RRLL1

Baton Rouge 42.98 ft 3 am 16 Jan 2016 expected to reach 43.5 ft, compare to 43.79 ft on 03/26/1997
Historic Crests
(1) 47.28 ft on 05/15/1927
(2) 45.18 ft on 04/29/1945
(3) 45.18 ft on 05/16/1922
(4) 45.01 ft on 05/18/2011
(5) 44.58 ft on 04/16/1945
(6) 44.48 ft on 02/28/1937
(7) 43.90 ft on 05/31/1983
(8) 43.79 ft on 03/26/1997
(9) 43.30 ft on 05/11/1912
(10) 43.13 ft on 05/12/2011
(11) 43.10 ft on 04/24/2008
(12) 42.98 ft on 06/10/1929
(13) 42.98 ft on 03/04/1950
(14) 42.48 ft on 04/22/1979
(15) 42.26 ft on 03/04/1932
(16) 42.05 ft on 03/01/1916
(17) 41.58 ft on 05/10/1973
(18) 40.98 ft on 05/22/1920
(19) 40.88 ft on 05/18/1944
(20) 40.78 ft on 05/09/1913
(21) 40.75 ft on 06/01/2009
(22) 40.44 ft on 04/14/1975
(23) 40.35 ft on 05/30/1984
(24) 40.13 ft on 05/13/1897
(25) 40.10 ft on 06/17/1995
(26) 39.95 ft on 01/24/1991
(27) 39.90 ft on 05/10/1994
(28) 39.53 ft on 04/07/1903
(29) 39.08 ft on 06/16/1908
(30) 38.93 ft on 07/27/2015
(31) 38.53 ft on 02/02/2005
(32) 38.48 ft on 02/15/1974
(33) 38.38 ft on 06/13/1943
(34) 38.18 ft on 04/14/1923
(35) 38.16 ft on 06/05/2002
(36) 38.01 ft on 05/06/1935
(37) 37.99 ft on 06/15/1933
(38) 37.98 ft on 04/02/1939
(39) 37.93 ft on 06/28/1892
(40) 37.88 ft on 06/23/1893
(41) 37.88 ft on 02/22/1949
(42) 37.80 ft on 06/11/1990
(43) 37.70 ft on 03/21/1985
(44) 37.35 ft on 04/29/1917
(45) 37.01 ft on 02/17/1999
(46) 36.88 ft on 02/17/1907
(47) 36.69 ft on 05/21/1993
(48) 36.60 ft on 04/15/1980
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lix&gage=btrl1&prob_type=stage&source=hydrograph

Reserve 23.83 ft at 3 am 16 Jan 2016 CST expected to crest at 24 ft, compare to23.99 ft on 03/20/1997. In 2011 the crest was 23.97 ft on 05/18/2011
Historic Crests
(1) 26.00 ft on 06/11/1929
(2) 25.90 ft on 04/28/1945
(3) 25.60 ft on 02/10/1950
(4) 25.60 ft on 02/26/1937
(5) 25.60 ft on 03/05/1932
(6) 25.30 ft on 05/18/1944
(7) 24.50 ft on 04/08/1973
(8) 24.00 ft on 04/14/1975
(9) 23.99 ft on 03/20/1997
(10) 23.97 ft on 05/18/2011
(11) 23.90 ft on 06/06/1983
(12) 23.70 ft on 06/13/1943
(13) 23.70 ft on 04/22/2008
(14) 23.60 ft on 02/22/1949
(15) 23.60 ft on 04/17/1979
(16) 23.60 ft on 07/09/1935
(17) 23.46 ft on 06/18/1995
(18) 23.40 ft on 05/31/1984
(19) 23.19 ft on 01/24/1991
(20) 23.14 ft on 06/01/2009
(21) 23.10 ft on 04/02/1939
(22) 23.10 ft on 06/14/1933
(23) 23.07 ft on 05/11/1994
(24) 23.00 ft on 02/09/1974
(25) 22.63 ft on 02/02/2005
(26) 22.50 ft on 04/13/1980
(27) 22.20 ft on 01/30/1946
(28) 22.10 ft on 04/30/1938
(29) 22.00 ft on 03/23/1985
(30) 21.78 ft on 06/05/2002
(31) 21.67 ft on 06/10/1990
(32) 21.60 ft on 06/02/1961
(33) 21.40 ft on 04/20/1948
(34) 21.13 ft on 02/18/1999
(35) 21.10 ft on 05/20/1993
(36) 20.80 ft on 04/12/1962
(37) 20.80 ft on 06/11/1957
(38) 20.70 ft on 04/13/1952
(39) 20.67 ft on 03/11/1989
(40) 20.61 ft on 06/08/1996
(41) 20.60 ft on 03/20/1951
(42) 20.60 ft on 05/09/1947
(43) 20.40 ft on 12/22/1982
(44) 20.22 ft on 05/19/1998
(45) 20.04 ft on 03/12/2001
(46) 20.00 ft on 05/11/1964
(47) 19.90 ft on 04/13/1955
(48) 19.89 ft on 02/15/2010
(49) 19.80 ft on 05/24/1958
(50) 19.70 ft on 03/04/1966
(51) 19.62 ft on 06/02/2003
(52) 19.50 ft on 05/03/1936
(53) 19.47 ft on 12/26/2004
(54) 19.46 ft on 04/01/2011
(55) 19.40 ft on 02/04/1930
(56) 19.30 ft on 02/22/1969
(57) 19.10 ft on 04/29/1942
(58) 19.00 ft on 05/18/1970
(59) 18.80 ft on 04/13/1978
(60) 18.80 ft on 05/29/1953
(61) 18.45 ft on 01/10/1988
(62) 18.40 ft on 03/18/1987
(63) 18.20 ft on 04/27/1965
(64) 18.20 ft on 12/30/1972
(65) 18.10 ft on 02/01/2007
(66) 18.00 ft on 03/15/1971
(67) 17.90 ft on 05/12/1940
(68) 17.70 ft on 12/22/1986
(69) 17.60 ft on 03/19/1956
(70) 17.40 ft on 04/08/1963
(71) 17.30 ft on 04/15/1968
(72) 16.84 ft on 12/31/1992
(73) 16.80 ft on 04/22/1977
(74) 16.40 ft on 04/23/1960
(75) 16.40 ft on 04/16/1934
(76) 16.30 ft on 06/02/1967
(77) 15.70 ft on 03/05/1959
(78) 15.60 ft on 06/15/1981
(79) 15.30 ft on 03/16/1976
(80) 14.70 ft on 11/16/1941
(81) 14.10 ft on 03/29/2006
(82) 13.80 ft on 12/31/1931
(83) 12.20 ft on 04/19/2000
(84) 11.00 ft on 05/19/1954

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lix&gage=rrvl1&prob_type=stage&source=hydrograph

New Orleans, 16.91 at 3 am 16 Jan 2016, expected to crest at 17 ft compared to 16.96 ft on 03/20/1997
Historic Crests
(1) 21.27 ft on 04/25/1922
(2) 21.05 ft on 05/11/1912
(3) 21.00 ft on 04/25/1927
(4) 20.50 ft on 05/18/1927
(5) 20.05 ft on 03/03/1916
(6) 19.99 ft on 06/08/1929
(7) 19.98 ft on 02/10/1950
(8) 19.78 ft on 05/01/1945
(9) 19.42 ft on 03/29/1903
(10) 19.38 ft on 05/21/1944
(11) 19.29 ft on 02/28/1937
(12) 19.28 ft on 05/08/1913
(13) 19.17 ft on 03/05/1932
(14) 19.17 ft on 05/13/1897
(15) 19.15 ft on 05/18/1920
(16) 18.95 ft on 06/18/1908
(17) 18.60 ft on 02/16/1907
(18) 18.47 ft on 04/07/1973
(19) 18.35 ft on 02/24/1949
(20) 18.17 ft on 06/12/1943
(21) 18.06 ft on 04/15/1923
(22) 17.99 ft on 04/14/1975
(23) 17.46 ft on 06/15/1933
(24) 17.45 ft on 06/22/1893
(25) 17.45 ft on 04/02/1939
(26) 17.42 ft on 05/22/1983
(27) 17.38 ft on 07/08/1935
(28) 17.38 ft on 05/19/2011
(29) 17.36 ft on 05/30/1984
(30) 17.35 ft on 06/10/1892
(31) 17.35 ft on 04/17/1979
(32) 17.15 ft on 02/01/1946
(33) 17.09 ft on 06/17/1995
(34) 17.05 ft on 01/24/1991
(35) 16.96 ft on 03/20/1997
(36) 16.92 ft on 02/16/1974
(37) 16.90 ft on 05/02/1917
(38) 16.89 ft on 03/26/1997
(39) 16.80 ft on 04/18/2008
(40) 16.73 ft on 05/11/1994
(41) 16.71 ft on 04/30/1938
(42) 16.55 ft on 04/06/1909
(43) 16.50 ft on 04/21/1948
(44) 16.49 ft on 06/01/2009
(45) 16.38 ft on 07/19/1928
(46) 16.35 ft on 06/03/1961
(47) 16.31 ft on 02/02/2005
(48) 16.30 ft on 04/13/1980
(49) 16.20 ft on 03/20/1985
(50) 16.15 ft on 04/27/1904
(51) 16.10 ft on 05/12/1921
(52) 16.10 ft on 03/13/1890
(53) 16.00 ft on 03/16/1891
(54) 16.00 ft on 04/21/1899
(55) 16.00 ft on 05/04/1906
(56) 16.00 ft on 05/09/1947
(57) 15.99 ft on 04/12/1952
(58) 15.90 ft on 04/25/1898
(59) 15.80 ft on 03/11/1951
(60) 15.79 ft on 04/17/1962
(61) 15.72 ft on 06/10/1957
(62) 15.70 ft on 04/15/1919
(63) 15.70 ft on 04/16/1874
(64) 15.65 ft on 06/11/1990
(65) 15.65 ft on 01/29/1924
(66) 15.60 ft on 05/02/1859
(67) 15.60 ft on 03/18/1884
(68) 15.55 ft on 03/05/1915
(69) 15.49 ft on 06/05/2002
(70) 15.42 ft on 04/13/1955
(71) 15.40 ft on 03/27/1851
(72) 15.40 ft on 04/07/1883
(73) 15.37 ft on 05/12/1964
(74) 15.25 ft on 05/22/1993
(75) 15.24 ft on 08/29/2005
(76) 15.20 ft on 03/11/1849
(77) 15.20 ft on 04/01/1828
(78) 15.13 ft on 02/18/1999
(79) 15.12 ft on 12/28/1982
(80) 15.10 ft on 05/10/1858
(81) 15.00 ft on 05/30/1853
(82) 14.95 ft on 03/27/1882
(83) 14.94 ft on 05/25/1958
(84) 14.83 ft on 03/03/1966
(85) 14.77 ft on 03/13/1989
(86) 14.70 ft on 04/26/1888
(87) 14.70 ft on 02/04/1930
(88) 14.70 ft on 04/14/1854
(89) 14.69 ft on 04/30/1942
(90) 14.66 ft on 06/08/1996
(91) 14.58 ft on 05/19/1998
(92) 14.57 ft on 05/04/1936
(93) 14.57 ft on 05/15/1911
(94) 14.54 ft on 05/19/1970
(95) 14.52 ft on 02/22/1969
(96) 14.50 ft on 04/06/1887
(97) 14.40 ft on 05/29/1953
(98) 14.31 ft on 03/12/2001
(99) 14.31 ft on 06/02/2003
(100) 14.30 ft on 04/30/1914
(101) 14.26 ft on 02/12/2010
(102) 14.15 ft on 12/30/1972
(103) 14.10 ft on 05/30/1852
(104) 14.05 ft on 03/17/1987
(105) 14.02 ft on 06/10/1905
(106) 14.00 ft on 04/29/1926
(107) 13.94 ft on 04/12/1978
(108) 13.93 ft on 04/27/1965
(109) 13.90 ft on 04/22/1880
(110) 13.88 ft on 12/26/2004
(111) 13.80 ft on 05/31/1886
(112) 13.80 ft on 01/21/1850
(113) 13.72 ft on 05/12/1940
(114) 13.70 ft on 04/24/1896
(115) 13.65 ft on 03/14/1971
(116) 13.55 ft on 01/22/1885
(117) 13.50 ft on 04/06/1894
(118) 13.45 ft on 12/23/1986
(119) 13.40 ft on 02/06/1860
(120) 13.35 ft on 04/14/1902
(121) 13.20 ft on 03/03/1956
(122) 13.18 ft on 04/06/1963
(123) 13.14 ft on 04/16/1968
(124) 13.10 ft on 01/09/1988
(125) 12.97 ft on 02/01/2007
(126) 12.93 ft on 06/03/1873
(127) 12.85 ft on 03/29/1910
(128) 12.70 ft on 05/11/1876
(129) 12.66 ft on 05/17/1901
(130) 12.64 ft on 04/21/1977
(131) 12.60 ft on 03/27/1900
(132) 12.55 ft on 03/12/1881
(133) 12.48 ft on 04/16/1934
(134) 12.41 ft on 09/09/1965
(135) 12.38 ft on 06/03/1967
(136) 12.30 ft on 05/06/1872
(137) 12.26 ft on 04/26/1960
(138) 12.04 ft on 12/30/1992
(139) 11.83 ft on 03/05/1959
(140) 11.75 ft on 05/12/1918
(141) 11.66 ft on 06/18/1981
(142) 11.60 ft on 03/13/1889
(143) 11.45 ft on 03/16/1976
(144) 11.30 ft on 05/13/1875
(145) 11.30 ft on 03/21/1878
(146) 11.10 ft on 06/04/1877
(147) 10.88 ft on 11/16/1941
(148) 10.80 ft on 02/20/1879
(149) 10.25 ft on 12/31/1931
(150) 10.15 ft on 04/08/1895
(151) 9.77 ft on 03/30/2006
(152) 9.50 ft on 04/07/1855
(153) 9.30 ft on 03/13/1925
(154) 8.57 ft on 04/20/2000
(155) 7.70 ft on 05/16/1954

(P): Preliminary values subject to further review.
http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/hydrograph.php?wfo=lix&gage=norl1&prob_type=stage&source=hydrograph