Greetings from Louisiana Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle and the Atchafalaya Basin Program.

See the Atchafalaya Basin Draft Annual Plan on web site– The draft 2011 Atchafalaya Basin Annual Plan is now available for viewing on the Atchafalaya Basin Program web site at www.basin.louisiana.gov. The Atchafalaya Basin Research and Promotion Board met last week and approved projects for inclusion in the plan.

Public hearings on the draft plan have been scheduled as follows:

Nov. 19 6 p.m. Iberville Parish Council Chambers 5850 Meriam St. Plaquemine

Nov. 23 6 p.m. St. Martin Parish Henderson Rec Building Guidry Park (Amy Street) Henderson

Nov. 24 6 p.m. St. Mary Parish Morgan City Auditorium 728 Myrtle St. Morgan City

Subsequent to these hearings, the Research & Promotion Board will consider comments received and may amend the plan and then the plan will be submitted to the Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority for their review and approval prior to final adoption by the Board. Upon final adoption of the plan by Research & Promotion the plan will be submitted to the Secretary of DNR who will submit the annual plan to the House Committee on Natural Resources and Environment and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources at least thirty days prior to the start of the regular legislative session.

While you’re on the web site -- Our website has many other features that might be of interest, such as the meeting and event calendar and the Basin Pics function. - Please feel free to suggest events for the calendar, send pictures of your experiences on the Basin to the site or suggest other features you would like to see. - If you do not wish to continue to receive the bulletins, please respond to this e-mail address to let us know you want to be taken off the list.

Checking the water -- The information below is obtained from the USGS and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and has been compiled by DNR into this format to allow a quick look at information pertinent to the Atchafalaya Basin.

Real time data from USGS for the Atchafalaya Basin may also be accessed from the DNR’s Basin website at www.basin.louisiana.gov, under “Weather and water levels.”

Gauge name: Cairo Location: Southern most gauge on the Ohio River in Illinois Reading significance - used to forecast rises on the Mississippi. Lag time, 4 to 6 days. Flood Stage: 40’ Stage: 36.5’ Forecast: expect a fall to 30.5’ by 11/15

Gauge name: Red River Location: Mississippi River, just south of ORCS Reading: Mississippi River south of ORCS, after the diversion into the Atchafalaya Flood Stage: 48’ Stage: 51.1’ Forecast: expected to continue rising and crest at 51.5’ on 11/13

Gauge name: Simmesport Location: Atchafalaya River, just south of ORCS Reading: The combined latitudinal flows of the Red, Black, Ouachita, and ORCS flow from the Mississippi Flood Stage: 47’ Stage: 31.75’ Forecast: Expect a rise to 32.9’ by 11/12 then on stand through 11/15

Bayou Courtableau Stage: 18.83’

Atchafalaya River at Butte Larose Flood Stage: 25’ Stage: 15.8’ Forecast: expect a rise to 16.2’ by 11/12 then on stand through 11/15

Bayou Fusilier of the Swamp Stage: 16.18’

Lake Pelba at I-10, Henderson Stage: 15.42’

Pontoon Bridge at Butte Larose Stage: 15.07’ Forecast: Gates partially open. Flow is from north to south

Beau Bayou Swamp Stage: 18.19’ Water Temp: 17° C

Bayou Darby at Fausse Pt. Cut Stage: 18.19’ Water Temp: 16.8° C

Lower Grand River at Bayou Sorrel Stage: 6.9’

Murphy Lake Stage: 13.44’ Water Temp: 17.1° C

Arm of Grand Lake near Crook Chene Stage: 13.34’ Water Temp: 17.5° C

Keelboat Pass Stage: 7.29’ Water Temp: 16.6° C

Buffalo Cove at Round Island Stage: 11.41’ Water Temp: 17.5° C

Bayou Sorrell Locks on the GIWW Flood Stage: 12’ Stage: 8.4’ Forecast: expect a rise to 8.7’ by 11/15

Atchafalaya at Myette Point Flood Stage: 15’ Stage: 9.66’ Forecast: expect a rise to 9.8’ by 11/15

Middle Fork, Bayou Long Stage: 6.95’ Water Temp: 17.9° C

Atchafalaya at Morgan City Flood Stage: 4.0’ Stage: 6.08’ Forecast: expect a rise to 6.1’ tomorrow then stand through 11/15

Patrick Courreges Department of Natural Resources Communications Director 225-454-8223