LAPLACE — Water levels in the Mississippi River have risen above 11 feet at the Carrollton gauge located in New Orleans. Currently, the National Weather Center forecasts the Mississippi River Level (MRL) to stay above 11 feet for the next few days.

St. John Parish in connection with the Pontchartrain and Lafourche Basin Levee Districts are reminding the public of restrictions regarding the levees in St. John Parish related to ongoing high water conditions. Contractors working within 1500 feet of the Mississippi River should refer to construction permits which provide guidelines and restrictions based on the Mississippi River water levels.

All permitted work will be on hold until conditions improve and water levels are below 11 feet at the Carrollton gauge.

Restrictions are:

No digging activity and/or subsurface permitted work of any kind is allowed within 1,500 feet of the levee centerline. This includes, but is not limited to pile driving, excavation and trenching.

Driving on the river levees is prohibited.

Inspection teams from the Army Corps of Engineers, Governor’s Office Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness and levee districts are monitoring the levee system throughout the day, seven days a week. In order to carry out the necessary assessments and operations, there will be zero tolerance for unauthorized parking and driving on the levees.

St. John the Baptist Parish will continue to monitor Mississippi River Levels and advise residents as conditions warrant. Flood stage at the Carrollton gauge is 17 feet, but floodwalls protect the city to a 20-foot stage. Normal river activity is ongoing and there is no projected impact of flooding to residential areas in St. John Parish and other areas along the river.