Greenville to Vicksburg: Introduction

Vicksburg

Gage At this point in the Rivergator we’ll leave the Greenville gage and switch over to the Vicksburg Gage, which is about 40 miles downstream. We’ll denote the Vicksburg Gage as “VG.” For daily river levels and weekly forecasts, go to http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/?n=lmrfc-mississippiandohioriverforecast Water levels according to the Vicksburg Gage Low Water = 0 to 20 VG Medium Water = 20 to 33 VG High Water = 33 to 43 VG Flood Stage = 43 VG and above VG = Vicksburg Gage Flood Stage Warning: above 43 VG paddlers are advised to stay off the river. Limited access. Most landings and approach roads will be underwater. Most islands will be gone. No easy camping. All sandbars will be covered. Fast waters with many hazards. All islands and landings will be surrounded by flooded forests full of snags, strainers, sawyers and all other dangerous conditions associated with floodwater moving through trees. Docks, wharves, dikes and any other man-made objects will create strong whirlpools, violent boils, and fast eddies. Towboats will create large waves. The Rivergator will not describe the river and its islands at any levels above flood stage.

Water Levels and Dikes

In the Vicksburg area you can use the following scale to gage water flowing over dikes, although some dikes vary in height. Also some have been “notched” in recent years as result there will be a middle notch that you can paddle through at much lower levels of water, some places down to 0 Vicksburg gage. Using the Vicksburg gage: 5-14 VG water flowing through notches only 15 VG - rocks still exposed on all dikes 16-17 VG dikes starting to go under, some flow through breaks & low spots 18 VG dikes completely under, but little flow 20-25 VG good flow and lots of boils & turbulence 25 VG strong flow, some turbulence, no dikes exposed anywhere 35 VG river bank full >43 VG Flood Stage. Warning: above 43 VG paddlers are advised to stay off the river. Limited access. Most landings and approach roads will be underwater. Most islands will be gone. No easy camping. All sandbars will be covered. Fast waters with many hazards. All islands and landings will be surrounded by flooded forests full of snags, strainers, sawyers and all other dangerous conditions associated with floodwater moving through trees. Docks,

wharves, dikes and any other man-made objects will create strong whirlpools, violent boils, and fast eddies. Towboats will create large waves. The Rivergator will not describe the river and its islands at any levels above flood stage. Lake Providence Lake Providence is the first town landing south of the Greenville Bridge (Sunnyside Landing), hence you could make Lake Providence the end-place or start-place for your river adventure. If you are resupplying in Lake Providence safeguard your canoe or kayak, and walk into town for access to a number of convenience stores, groceries and restaurants. The US Post Office is just over the levee at Sparrow Street (US 65) and 1st Street. You can find Wi-Fi just down the street at the library (109 Sparrow). Paddlers needing accommodations might try the Lakeview Inn & Suites, which is a mile north of town on US 65. For sit down or take out food, some of the best eating anywhere along the Lower Mississippi is found in Lake Providence at the Dock. Its well-worth the mile walk from the river for the ambience and Cajun cuisine found at the Dock, which is located literally on a dock at the edge of the oxbow lake at 829 Lake St, (318) 559-3625. Just beyond the Dock the mystical Bayou Macon takes shape as it flows under the nondescript highway 65 bridge. Lake Providence is the birthplace of Bayou Macon. A hundred miles downstream Bayou Macon is the spectacular archeological wonder -- Poverty Point -- the site of the largest & earliest organized native society in the Western Hemisphere. 2-3,000 people lived and flourished here several millenniums before Christ, to mysteriously disappear about 1100BC. See Rivergator Appendix for complete descriptions of the fascinating paddling trails of Northeastern Louisiana including Bayou Macon, Tensas River and Bayou Bartholomew. Lake Providence Landings Lake Providence Primitive Landing You'll see a primitive landing with access into town two miles down RBD. Hide your canoe or kayak and walk through woods, over levee and into town via City Dump Road (which brings you out on Lake Street US 65). If you need a quick resupply of water or food, this would be your closest landing to town. Lake Providence Harbor Boat Launch Narrow concrete ramp cut through the muddy banks of the harbor. Good at all water levels. Don't leave vehicle here except for daytrip. The walk to town is three miles. Paddler's Choices in the Mayersville-Lake Providence Area https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217859314001592865582.0004e6c12cc034cdc7e9e&msa=0&ll= 32.919151,-91.070223&spn=0.072626,0.111837 http://goo.gl/maps/bwuqE

At low water canoeists and kayakers must stay main channel through some very long straightaways and very, very long gently curving turns around Mayersville, Mississippi and Lake Providence, Louisiana. But at high water levels, above 30 on the Vicksburg Gauge, several long back channels open up delivering fascinating scenery and sometimes spectacular wildlife.

Main Channel

The main channel route through this area is fairly straightforward. Go with the flow around the outsides of the bends, and make your crossings through the middles. As always be forever alert to towboats and their navigation routes, moreover watch for buoys. Tennis Court Landing