[Ted Davisson]

Greetings From New Orleans & The Bonnet Carre Spillway !
Today , Monday , May 9 , the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers commenced the opening of the Bonnet Carre Spillway !
Also , today the Coast Guard's , Vessel Traffic Service has reported to all mariners that the New Orleans , Carrollton , River Gage has reached and exceeded 16.5 feet and is is anticiapted to rise at least another three feet !
Therefore , that is why the Corps has started opeing the spillway and so far twenty -eight bays have been opened and more are expected to be opened as time goes by !
The Corps Of Engineers also placed a " Picket Boat " , the M/V Kent at the lower end of the spillway to both monitor traffic and to assist if necessary if a vessel gets literally pulled into the out draft of the spillway !
Today , I am on a north bound light bulker and was able to get a few shots of this " Media Event " and it appears that this is just another way that the good folks of New Orleans look forward to having a festival for any excuse whatsoever ! From what I could see there were hundreds of cars with famileys with children and was covered from the air by helicopters as well !
There are still a number of unanswered questions concerning the spillway as to how many more bays will be opened and for that matter how long ??
Smooth Sailing !
Ted Davisson
NOBRA 70