Mile 201.0 - Atchafalaya River Boat Ramps (Functional Jan 2016)
Atchafalaya River Boat Ramps (Functional Jan 2016)
Old River Lock & Dam Boat Ramps
5.3 RBD Simmesport Boat Ramp
29.7 RBD Melville Boat Ramp
42.3 RBD Krotz Springs Boat Ramp
55 LBD Atchafalaya NWR
61.7 LBD Bayou Des Glaises (primitive)
Breaux’s Boat Ramp (Old Atchafalaya)
Butte La Rose (Old Atchafalaya)
Rock Weir Ramp (Sixmile Lake)
Verdunville Landing (Sixmile Lake)
122 RBD Berwick Boat Ramp
124.3 RBD Intracoastal Waterway Boat Ramp
River Gages
We will refer to the following river gages on the Atchfalaya:
Atchafalaya River Basin River Gages
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/?n=atchafalayariverbasin
Best Water Levels to Paddle to the Gulf
The best time to paddle to the Gulf is during low or medium water levels (around 0 on the Morgan City Gage), which usually occurs in the late summer and fall. This is excellent timing for long-distance paddlers, most of whom begin in Minnesota or Montana in May or June, and 3-5 months later are approaching the Gulf of Mexico. Annually the water levels at Morgan City typically peak during the spring flood season (April-July) and trough in the fall/winter (Sept-February), with intermediate changes in between. The lowest recorded water level was -5.4 on August 25, 1926, and the record high peaked during the 1973 flood at 10.53 (The same flood that almost dislodged the Old River Control Structure). The waters almost came that high during the Great Flood of 2011 when they crested at 10.35 in Morgan City.
LiNKS = Leave No Kid on Shore
Leave no Kids on Shore (LiNKS) is an after-school environmental conservation/stewardship program for youth from the Lower Mississippi Valley to learn the skills of carving canoes, safe paddling on the big river, and wilderness survival. LiNKS is a natural continuation of the successful Mighty Quapaw Apprenticeship Program which has been active since 1998. LiNKS will focus on long-term solutions over short term fixes, in particular by applying long-term attention to our youth, and fostering mentorship relationships that last a decade or longer. See end of this section for more information about LiNKS, and making plans to donate your vessel. Or contact John Ruskey, Director, Lower Mississippi River Foundation, Clarksdale, MS 38614, 662-627-4070, john@island63.com.
Resources:
USACE 2012 Atchafalaya River and outlets to Gulf of Mexico
Navigation Chart Folio, 6th Edition
http://www2.mvn.usace.army.mil/ENG/EDSD/mapbooks/atch_nav_2012_map.asp
Atchafalaya Basin Map (LSU - Louisiana Geological Survey)
Full color, large scale map of the basin above Morgan City created by the LSU Louisiana Geological Survey. Waterproof paper. Features main channel, back channels, bayous, vegetation, campsites, roads, boat landings, levees, streams, and more. Fold out or rolled in tube. Satellite image on reverse side. Important Note: does not include Atchafalaya or Wax Lake Deltas below Morgan City/Bayou Teche. Contact the Louisiana Geological Survey at http://www.lgs.lsu.edu or call 225.578.8590. Or call the DNR Atchafalaya Basin Program Office at 225.342.6437. Folded map = $14.00 and Tubed map = $17.00
Atchafalaya River Basin River Gages
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/?n=atchafalayariverbasin
Atchafalaya Basinkeeper
Quinta Scott: Atchafalaya River Blog
https://quintascott.wordpress.com/category/atchafalaya-river/
John McPhee: The Control of Nature
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1987/02/23/atchafalaya
Cajun Culture and the Atchafalaya Wilderness
Paddling down the Atchafalaya yields a wonderful opportunity for exploring small channels, bayous, back bays and back channels and the Cajun people who inhabit them. A lot has changed with the flood control projects and petrochemical projects of the last century, but the Atchafalaya is still a human place as well as a wild place. Can both live in harmony? If this is possible anywhere in North America, the harmony between man and nature is possible in the Atchafalaya. As you paddle through the extensive forests, swamps of the Atchfalaya Basin, watch for opportunities for visitation in some of its small communities. One such place to experience some of this intimacy with nature, this deep sense of place following the Old Channel of the Atchfalaya River through Butte La Rose. Follow the Old Channel at the Split at mile 56.5. The Atchafalaya Basin is a place where man and nature coexist in some kind of harmony; where Cajun families live on the waterways and the outdoors is an intimate part of their daily lives; where houses have been built on stilts hanging over the river, or on wooded banks of the bayou, or on houseboats, and where the communities end the deep woods begin. Wave your hand hullo for passing fishing boats and crawdadders. They may not wave back, but then again they might. Don’t expect handouts. People fish here for a living, not for sport. In fact, you might offer to buy a fish, or a bag of fresh-caught crawfish, for an incomparable meal over the campfire. If someone waves you over to their dock or houseboat, by all means go over for a visit. You might be offered a cup of coffee or tea. By all means accept this offering. Sharing a cup of coffee is a Cajun tradition as old as the arrival of the Acadians. You would do well to carry a thermos and fill it up with hot coffee every morning. You might make a few new friends when you pull out your thermos and offer them a cup of campfire joe. Especially if you buy one of the local South Louisiana favorites like Mello Joy. Mello Joy is the Atchafalaya favorite, or so I’m told by one of its residents. What are the other choices?
SOLA Coffee Companies
Coffee, and the serving and sharing of it, is a fine tradition honed to perfection in Southern Louisiana. Ce Bon! In Cajun country you will be considered unfriendly if you don’t offer you guests or visitors a cup of fresh brew. We identified Community Coffee above because it is housed right on the banks of the river in Baton Rouge, and commands such a strong presence. But there are many, many other great SoLa choices to sample including French Market, River Road, Luzianne, Cafe Du Monde (CDM), Union Coffee, and Mello Joy. Paddler Robert Landreneau who grew up in a multi-generational Lafayette family swears by Mello Joy. I prefer River Road Organic. Baby’s Coffee in Breaux Bridge should be added if possible. Try them all. Be sure to sample at least one chicory blend. Chicory is as SoLa as it gets! Chicory is roasted sassafras, derived from native traditions, and commonly used in SoLa during the depression and the World Wars as a coffee substitute or extender. Not everyone enjoys chicory, but you can cut the bitterness with some sugar and milk like they do at Cafe du Monde. You’ll soon find out which most titillates your personal coffee senses! They’re all good if they’re from SoLa, and will be fresher roasted than most other store-bought coffees you’ll find anywhere else in America. And there is a reason for this: bulk coffee beans arrive here at these same ports quicker from coffee-growing nations in Latin and South America than they do anywhere else in the US! You’re in SoLa now, dear paddler, and you might as well taste it all, the freshest beans in America. Enjoy the sensation!
Atchafalaya River:
River Log:
Old River Lock & Dam
to
Gulf of Mexico
© 2015 John RuskeyFor the Rivergator: Lower Mississippi River Water Trail
The Atchafalaya
One would be hard pressed to find a river in North America that actually gets cleaner as it flows downstream, as all rivers used to do. But welcome to the Atchafalaya, the prime example of the healthy river. The Atchafalaya River is a distributary of the Mississippi River; it flows approximately 150 miles through Louisiana before reaching the Gulf of Mexico. The Atchafalaya ranks alongside the Everglades and the Okeefenokee in size, but it has a big river traveling through that the others lack. As the Atchafalaya travels downstream, it flows through North America’s largest river swamp, breathing in and out as it flows along, filling the wetlands and marshes on the way in, the water returning to the main channel refreshed, and in the process rids itself of pollutants brought downstream from the Mississippi. It stands as a model of how the persistence and natural function of a river can improve water quality conditions if given the chance. Restoration of the Gulf Coast is also occurring at the Atchafalaya River Delta due to natural sedimentation; it is one of the few areas on the Gulf Coast that is gaining ground.
A Note on Mileage
The trail for the Atchafalaya involves the Mississippi, the Crossover, and the Atchafalaya. We are writing this for the long distance paddler who might choose to jump over the the Atchaf for the final run to the Gulf. But we are also keeping in mind the local paddler who might want to paddle the Atchafalaya, and none of the Mississippi. As result three separate systems of mileage will have to be used. The Rivergator will describe the Atchafalaya Trail using (1) the mileage from the Mississippi River AHP system (Above Head of Passes), (2) the USACE system for mileage through the Lock & Dam and Lower Old River Channel, and finally (3) the mileage of the Atchafalaya River herself, from mile -0- at the mixing of the Red River & the Mississippi down to the Gulf of Mexico (mile 150+).
A Note on Pronunciation
Atchafalaya means “long river” in Choctaw. (This is a contradiction in terms, as the Atchafalaya is the biggest shortest river in North America!) The word Atchafalaya undulates back and forth is an elegant, sonorous kind of way, similar to the word Mississippi in length and poetic ring. Locally, however, it is not pronounced using all of its beautiful syllables. In fact, it’s pronounced in one distinct cough. Don’t say “A-tchaf-a-la-ya” but say instead “ATCHFALAYA!!!” -- and do it in one breath. The Atchafalaya Basinkeeper Dean Wilson told me that the word Atchafalaya should be pronounced in one syllable, in a single cough. Try coughing it out in one single gust of air, like you’re sneezing. That’s kind of how it should be said. “ATCHFALAYA!!!” At least locally, within the basin, and surrounding coastal prairie country. “ATCHFALAYA!!!” Keep practicing this until you say it spontaneously, without hesitation, in between gulps of fresh chicory coffee. In the Rivergator we alternate between spelling out the full word and using the shortened Atchaf. Both signify the same thing: the glorious river of trees flowing through a million acres of woods and marsh to the ocean.
Where to start your Atchafalaya River Expedition
If you’re just now embarking on a Atchafalaya River Expedition, you have several choices for a good start place. The three options are described in greater detail further on in the Rivergator.
1) Knox Landing: You can begin your Atchafalaya River Expedition on the Mississippi River at Knox Landing, which is located in between the last two Old River inflow structures at mile 313.7 on the Louisiana side of the river, land access via LA Hwy 15.
2) Lock & Dam Start: Put in at one of the three boat ramps located around the Lock & Dam structure and paddle six miles down canal to reach flowing waters of the Atchaf. Land access via LA Hwy 15 near Torras.
3) Simmesport: You could start five miles down the Atchafalaya at the Simmesport Boat Ramp which is located right bank descending at 5.3. Simmesport, LA, is loacted on LA Hwy 1 between Marksville and New Roads.
Rivergator: Paddler’s Guide to
Atchafalaya River:
Mississippi Approach
to the Atchafalaya
© 2015 John RuskeyFor the Rivergator: Lower Mississippi River Water Trail
Leaving the Mississippi River
We will start this section of the Rivergator on the Mississippi, at the first of the inflow channels, for you paddlers coming down the length of the big river and getting ready to exit into the Atchaf. If you’re already here, scroll down to your mileage. We’re using the USACE Atchafalaya Charts, you can coordinate your place with the Rivergator listings by that mileage system. If you’re not on a major Mississippi expedition, and you want to paddle the Atchafalaya River, see below for where to start.
Mississippi River Maps and Mileage
For approaching the entrance to the Atchafalaya, the Rivergator will refer to the US Army Corps of Engineers 2007 Maps of the Lower Mississippi River, which can be viewed or downloaded from the following website: http://www.mvm.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/RiverNavigationCharts.aspx Mileage refers to the number of miles above the Gulf of Mexico (at the Head of Passes).
NATCHEZ GAGE (NG)
The Natchez Gage is the closest gage upstream, and is similar to the Red River Gage, with a flood stage of 48. What is happening in Natchez will be happening here. The Rivergator will use the Natchez Gage in describing all landings, islands, and points of interest between Old River Control Structure and the Old River Lock & Dam. The Natchez Gage can be found online at:
http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lmrfc/?n=lmrfc-mississippiandohioriverforecast
Water levels according to the Natchez Gage
Low Water = 0 to 20 NG
Medium Water = 20 to 33 NG
High Water = 33 to 47 NG
Bank Full = 40 NG
Flood Stage = 48 NG and above
(NG = Natchez Gage)
Flood Stage Warning: above 48 NG 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.
USING THE NATCHEZ GAGE:
6-15 NG water flowing through notches only
16 NG - rocks still exposed on all dikes
18-19 NG dikes starting to go under, some flow through breaks & low spots
20 NG dikes completely under, but little flow
29-30 NG good flow and lots of boils & turbulence
30 NG strong flow, some turbulence, no dikes exposed anywhere
40 NG river bank full
>48 NG Flood Stage
Warning: above 48 NG 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.
Three Inflow Openings at Old River
In the 18th Century, the Red River and the Atchafalaya River joined the Lower Mississippi in the same big bend. The Red River was one of the Mississippi's tributaries, but the Atchafalaya was a high water outlet, a distributary that carried excess flows from the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico, through the Atchafalaya Basin. In 1831, Captain Henry Shreve attempted to improve navigation on the Lower Mississippi by cutting off the big bend in the vicinity of the Red and Atchafalaya Rivers. The cutoff caused the Atchafalaya to fill with drift and debris, and it soon became unnavigable. In 1839, it was reported that the head of the Atchafalaya had grown so small that in low water people could walk across it on a plank 15 feet long. The State of Louisiana, in an effort to keep the Atchafalaya from closing completely, had the huge raft of drift and debris removed, and the Atchafalaya immediately began to enlarge and deepen its channel.
Shreve's Cutoff caused other changes in the area. The upper part of the old bend of the river began to fill, closing itself off from the Mississippi. The lower arm of the bend became the Atchafalaya's connection with the Mississippi. In 1872, Red River changed its course, abandoned its old mouth, broke through into the old riverbed, and joined itself to the head of the Atchafalaya. With the channel that had become known as "Old River" as the only connection with the Mississippi, the flow was either westerly or easterly, depending upon the respective stages of the Red and the Mississippi.
The changed conditions caused the Atchafalaya to enlarge rapidly near its head. In 1880 it was reported that water was no longer flowing into the Mississippi from either the Red or the Atchafalaya. The current in Old River was flowing into the Atchafalaya at all stages of the water.
In the years that followed, many efforts were made to limit the flow from the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya, but they were all unsuccessful. It soon became obvious that the Atchafalaya, if left to its own devices, would capture the full flow of the Mississippi at Old River, creating a permanent diversion. The effect of the diversion on Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and the heavily populated and highly industrialized areas below Old River would be disastrous. On September 3, 1954, Congress authorized the Army Corps of Engineers to construct permanent control structures at Old River to avert the threatened diversion of the Mississippi. The problems had been under intensive study for many years, and the construction of the project began almost immediately.
The first structure to be completed was the low sill structure, and it was designed to maintain the flow that was considered normal at the time the structure was built. An overbank structure was then added to take care of excess water in major floods. So that boats would not be cut off from the Atchafalaya and Red Rivers, a navigation lock was constructed. It was opened to navigation on March 15, 1963. With all the control structures in place, Old River itself was completely closed by a huge earthen dam. The uncontrolled flow of water from the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya ceased completely on July 12, 1963.
For the next decade, the Old River control structures functioned satisfactorily. During the major flood of 1973, however, a wing wall collapsed in front of the low sill structure. When the flood waters subsided, surveys revealed severe damage to the structure. Emergency repairs were made, and the engineers began another long battle to keep the Atchafalaya from capturing the Mississippi. An extensive rehabilitation program is being developed by the Corps, while studies continue on permanent solutions to the complex problems at Old River.
Since most of the problems at Old River arose after Captain Henry Shreve constructed his cutoff in the area in 1831, it has often been argued that Shreve was responsible for the difficulties. It seems entirely possible, however, that the river would have effected a cutoff of its own without Shreve's assistance. Samuel Cumings, in The Western Pilot, commented in 1829 that the river was rapidly wearing away the neck of of land in the bend, which was then only 200 to 300 yards across. Islands No. 119, No. 120, and No. 121 (called the Three Sisters) had already been completely washed away, Cumings said, and he predicted an early cutoff. (Braggs)
Warning:
Very dangerous currents in and near beginning of inflow channels when structures are in operation. Flashing amber lights and horns are located on the south points of the inflow channels of the Low Sill and Auxiliary structures. The inflow channels are NOT navigable channels, therefore, under no circumstances should any vessel attempt to enter. Tows and other vessels should navigate as far as possible from this area and as close to the left descending bank of the Mississippi River as safety will permit.
Old River Control Structure: 3 Inflow Channels
Regardless of the above warning, which is printed on the USACE maps, you will not helplessly flushed through the gates of the dragon-like Old Rive Control structures. Maybe you’ve read about it, or heard frightening tales about it. It’s as legendary as the Chain of Rocks of St. Louis, and as little understood, and as many tall tales told about. No, you won’t be inexplicably sucked into and flushed down the canal. Stay mid-channel as traffic allows. Keep at least three hundred yards off the right bank descending as you approach all of the three openings, and watch carefully how the water is flowing. At higher water stay further out, at lower water staying out two hundred yards is enough. Do not make landings anywhere near the mouth, or you might indeed, as fears run rampant, be sucked into the opening.