CORPS PLANS EXERCISE IN BOOTHEEL FLOODWAY

The Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway, designed to lower flood stages upstream and adjacent to the floodway during major river flooding, has not been used since the flood of 1937, but it remains ready.

The Memphis District Army Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard marine safety office at Memphis will conduct a joint exercise this week to assure that the floodway is ready.

The Bird's Point-New Madrid Floodway was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1928, said Jack Hurdle of the Corps' emergency operations division at Memphis. The Flood Control Act was passed following the big 1927 flood along the Mississippi River.

The Coast Guard's part in the floodway operation is to direct river traffic during an emergency situation.

"We depend on the Coast Guard for transportation from Memphis to the floodway," said Hurdle. "We conduct these exercises on occasion to make sure there is no miscommunications."

Called a Tabletop Timetable, the Thursday exercises will consist of a walk-through of the floodway, said Hurdle.

Following the exercise, which starts about 8 a.m., Coast Guard and Corps members will discuss the operation.

The floodway was constructed during the early 1930s and completed prior to the 1937 flood, which was another major flood along the Mississippi.

The floodway is in Southeast Missouri, just below the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers at Cairo, Ill. The 205-mile floodway area is encircled by levees.

"The floodway has a setback levee," said Hurdle. "This offers the ultimate protection for Southeast Missouri." The frontline levee, said Hurdle, is from 2-to-4 feet lower than the setback levee.

If the floodway is used, it will lower flood stages to the north on both the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, said Hurdle.

Since 1937, modifications to the plan of operation have decreased the expected frequency of floodway operation from 1-in-l7 to about 1-in-80 on average.

During the exercise, participants will investigate portions of the operational scenario concentrating on performance and security issues.

"We want to familiarize the new people on our team with the plan of operation of the floodway," said Jim Lloyd, the Corps' Birds Point-New Madrid Floodway team leader.