Corps update predicts Mississippi River to drop below flood stage in August

The U.S. Corps of Engineers is predicting the Mississippi River will finally drop below flood stage at Vicksburg the first week of August. The Vicksburg District of the USACE provided the following update yesterday afternoon, July 18:

The Vicksburg, Mississippi, gauge on the Mississippi River has been above flood stage for 154 consecutive days, which is the longest duration since 1927.

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast the Mississippi River throughout the region to experience steady falling for the rest of the month. The Mississippi River will reach minor flood stage at Arkansas City, Arkansas, by tomorrow, Greenville, Mississippi by July 21, Vicksburg, Mississippi by July 30, and Natchez, Mississippi by August 8.

The gates of the Steele Bayou Control Structure and Little Sunflower Structure remain open. The Yazoo Backwater area is currently 97.0 feet and expected to fall slowly. As of 3 p.m. Central, the elevation of Eagle Lake was 97.6 feet and will slowly fall with the backwater in the coming weeks.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Vicksburg District’s four flood control reservoirs in north Mississippi – Arkabutla, Enid, Sardis and Grenada – are all releasing excess rainfall, or runoff.

The Vicksburg District continues to conduct regular patrols of flood control works across its jurisdiction and to collaborate with its local, state and federal partners.