The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is testing the Bonnet Carre Spillway amid concerns of fresh water invading the Mississippi Sound. The Corps expects water flow to exceed 1.28 million cubic feet per second, prompting the spillway’s opening for 10 to 14 days. While the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources downplays the potential impacts, groups like the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies and the Mississippi Sound Coalition are alarmed. IMMS highlighted the 153 dolphin deaths attributed to freshwater toxicity during the 2019 spillway opening. They advocate for the Morganza spillway to be opened instead to mitigate the impact on the Mississippi Sound. The Corps of Engineers maintains they cannot open the Morganza until water flow reaches 1.5 million cubic feet per second, but critics disagree. The Mississippi Sound Coalition and IMMS have long pushed for Mississippi representation on the Mississippi River Commission to ensure the state’s interests are considered. Concerns linger about the potential environmental and economic impact on the Gulf Coast region. The ongoing debate highlights the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach to managing water flow in the region to protect both the ecosystem and local communities.
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