River rise may affect wharf finish date

As Morgan City’s riverfront wharf improvement gets ever closer to completion, a rising river might delay the finishing touches.

The Atchafalaya River is projected to crest near 7 feet May 27, according to the National Weather Service.

A crest at that level would cause Morgan City officials to close at least two floodgates, one at Railroad Avenue and Front Street and another on Freret Street, Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said. As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, the river was at 5.53 feet and projected to reach the 6-foot flood stage by Saturday morning. The forecast shows the river reaching 6.3 feet Sunday evening.

Morgan City’s wharf improvement project is in the final stages, but the finish could be delayed depending on what the river does, Grizzaffi said. Still, he hopes to open the wharf to the public by the Fourth of July.

The $2.05 million project entailed extending Morgan City’s riverfront wharf by about 200 feet and upgrading the exist-ing 800 feet of wharf. The riverfront wharf will go from Brashear Avenue to Railroad Avenue.

A $1.24 million state Department of Natural Resources grant, $370,000 in city funds, $290,000 in port money and a $150,000 donation from the H&B Young Foundation paid for the project.

On Tuesday, city workers were installing a water line that will allow boats that dock at the wharf to connect to the city’s water system. That work should finish this week, said Kawika Kaai, the city’s water, sewer and gas supervisor.

The wharf project has experienced a few delays already, mainly a nine-month delay when the city halted construction in late 2015 due to the unseasonably high water that winter.

If the May 27 projected crest remains the same, Berwick would probably have to close a floodgate at Pacific Street and possibly one at Canton Street, Mayor Louis Ratcliff said.

St. Mary Levee District Executive Director Tim Matte said the levee district is keeping a close eye on the river forecast, but, at this point, shouldn’t have to take any action with the current projected crest.

Just over a month out from the start of summer, the temperatures are starting to rise, too, with expected highs of 84 degrees Wednesday, 85 degrees Thursday and 87 degrees Friday.

The lows aren’t forecasted to get below 71 degrees during the next few days. A 40 percent chance of thunderstorms is projected to show up Saturday with a high of 86 degrees and low of 72 degrees.