Red River rising should be minimal in Avoyelles

    Although Red River is projected to be at one of its highest levels in recent memory, Avoyelles should have little to worry about, retired engineer Jesse Lachney said.

    The Red River was at 31.2 feet at Alexandria after Wednesday’s storm and was projected to pass floodstage of  32.0 feet early this week before cresting at 37.5 feet on or before June 8. If that holds true, it will be the highest crest since the river reached 38.25 feet on June 13, 1992.

   Lachney, a retired DOTD engineer and former Red River-Atchafalaya-Bayou Bouef Levee Board commissioner -- said Avoyelles residents have no need to worry “so long as the Atchafalaya does not reach flood stage.”

   The Atchafalaya is about 25 feet below flood stage at Simmesport, “which means the water in Avoyelles Parish still has a place to go.”

Lachney  said  Black   River  is also about 10 feet below flood stage, which also takes some drainage from the parish before emptying into the Red River and then into the Atchafalaya.

    “We have levees in Avoyelles, so any flooding threat is from backwater,” Lachney said. “The locks and dams on Red River also help a lot. As long as the Atchafalaya is below flood stage, there is no need to worry, in my opinion. The Atchafalaya can take a lot of water.”

    The National Weather Service chart of recent crests indicates the last flood stage at Alexandria was 32.15 on Nov. 5, 2009. 

    At 37.5 feet, the river will top the rails of the Texas & Pacific Railroad bridge at Boyce and cause considerable backwater flooding in that area, the NWS reported. The NWS is projecting there will be an  overflow at the Red’s confluence with Black River which could result in backwater flooding from bayous in this area.

    Lachney said some areas may experience some backwater flooding, “but nothing major.”

    He said major floods in 1973, 1975 and 1990 had severe impact on Avoyelles because both the Red and the Atchafalaya were above flood stage.