LAPLACE — Water levels in the Mississippi River have increased above 12 feet at the Carrollton gauge located in New Orleans, parish officials said Monday.

Although forecasters predict the Mississippi River Levels to decrease this week, St. John Parish and the Pontchartrain Levee District want to remind the public of restrictions regarding the levees in St. John and high water conditions.

Residents should minimize all four-wheeler, truck and vehicle activity on the levees with the exception of delivering logs and other building supplies for bonfire construction.

Permitted times for driving onto the levee are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The public is not allowed to loiter on levees at this time.

Contractors working within the 1500 feet of the Mississippi River should refer to the construction permits which provide guidelines and restrictions based on the water levels. 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.