Back to the Atchafalaya

 

Old River Control Structure

You may have seen this image a few weeks ago, before I got diverted by something else. 

Then, I noted that about a third of the Mississippi is diverted to the Atchafalaya to keep the latter from taking over the former. And, I noted that that is a source of opportunity for the Louisiana Coast.

 

Bayou Chene at Avoca Island

 

The Atchafalaya is an enormous source of freshwater that could be diverted to the fresh marshes in the Terrebonne Basin. Much of it already gets there in a round about way through the Avoca Island Cutoff  to Bayou Penchant and the fresh marshes west of Avoca Island. 

 

Fresh Marsh along Bayou Carencro, Terrebonne Basin

What is happening informally every time the Atchafalaya runs 3 to 4 feet above sea level at the Intracoastal Waterway, the State of Louisiana would like to control and assure freshwater and sediment to sustain the fresh, green marshes of the western Terrebonne Basin.