Morganza Spillway of the Morganza Floodway closed. In March 1997, the river water flow at Baton Rouge reached () per second. However, the flow rate never reached the threshold of () per second for opening Morganza, and residents of Sicily Island, Louisiana, became angry that the spillway was not opened to prevent flooding in their homes. In March–April 2008, officials considered but declined to open the spillway gates. While the spillway gates remained closed then, flooding still occurred in part of the Morganza floodway when the Mississippi River crested higher than levees near the spillway. Local residents and National Guard troops attempted
Morganza Spillway 2011 event) had been opened by the Corps of Engineers. The Corps estimated the flow rate at . However, on May 25, new estimates from the U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS) described a much higher rate of , resulting in the closure of 3 bays by May 26, and additional closures by May 29, bringing the total to 11 bays with an estimated diversion rate of . The Corps continued to evaluate the flow and close additional bays as appropriate. By June 6, the number of open gates had been reduced to seven, and by June 8, only two gates were