Driving Directions: From Hwy. It is filled with twisting bayous, rivers and Americas largest river swamp. Time lapsed animation of basin from 1956 to 1993. This vast, critical reservoir supports a diversity of life and helps regulate Earths climate. } } You run it for a number of roughness values and when the value matches the satellite height to the model height, you get your calibrated model. border-color: #000000; The largest swamp in the United States, the Atchafalaya flood basin combines wetlands and river deltas that buffer against major catastrophes. Sign in. Home About Us Outdoor Series Marine Series Reference Series Custom Maps GIS Services Pricing Contact Us. Gear up for an adventure in the Atchafalaya! The natural levees of the Mississippi River (on the east) and the levees along its previous course (now Bayou Teche) on the west define the Atchafalaya Basin. In times of extreme flooding, the US Army Corps of Engineers may open the Morganza Spillway and other spillways to relieve pressure on levees and control structures along the Mississippi. ", "Recent Sedimentation Patterns Within The Central Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana", Map Produced By Gmap4 | Enhanced Google Map Viewer, "River Activism: "Levees Only" and the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927", National Weather Service: Atchafalaya Basin, Satellite view of the Atchafalaya delta on Google maps. View cart for details. [1] The basin contains about 70% forest habitat and about 30% marsh and open water. Go. Fishing width: 100%; But levees steer Mississippi waters and nutrients away from wetlands, and without regular flooding, wetlands compact. Refresh your browser window to try again. US Army Corps of Engineers - New Orleans District. From then until the completion of the Old River Control Structure in 1963, the Mississippi was increasingly diverting flow into the shorter and steeper path of the Atchafalaya channel. The Atchafalaya flows west of the Mississippi. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS [15] Writing about her family's experiences in the region, Gwen Roland describes how the community relied upon the basin's waters for everything, including transportation: Out here on the Chene, our skiffs flare out on the sides so they float high like an acorn cap; it makes them quick to steer with an extra push on one oar or the other. border-color: #000000; located in the central part of the coastal zone, west of the Terrebonne Basin (Figure AT-1). Shopping. During the period of 19601980, oil and gas exploration and development in Louisiana increased dramatically. } The historic lack of significant channel connection indicates that the Atchafalaya River Basin did not receive significant sediment from the Mississippi except during large floods. border-color: #000000; -->, , , ,