USGS CMG InfoBank: Old River Channel

Source: Annenberg/CPB Resources - Earth Revealed - 20. Running Water II: Landscape Evolution

Keywords: "Old River", dam, "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers", "Old River Control Project", river, "Mississippi River", "Atchafalaya River", "navigational lock", flow-rate

Our transcription: First, the Old River channel was dammed; this meant that the only natural connection between the Atchafalaya and the Mississippi was closed.

Since the Corps did not want to disrupt boat traffic between the two Rivers, a navigational lock was built on Old River at a cost of $15 million.

To enforce the mandated 70/30 flow-rate, construction began on two control structures at a combined cost of $15 million.

These structures were completed and operational by 1963.