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photo by Marcus Frazier
The Vidalia trolley passes through the Mississippi River water coming from the drains along Front Street on the Vidalia Riverfront Friday. The river’s high level is pushing water back through drains that were meant to remove water from the Riverfront. Sandbags have been piled on top of the drains to hold slow the reverse seepage of the water.
River water comes up drains on Riverfront
Published Saturday, April 12, 2008
VIDALIA — With the flooded Mississippi River backing up the drains along the Vidalia Riverfront, the city now has to pump water out of the street.
Placing sandbags around the drains has slowed the backflow, which has left approximately eight to 10 inches of water standing in front of the Promise Hospital construction site.
“Our drains normally flow from the street to the river, and they have a back flap to keep the river from flowing back into them,” Vidalia Street Department Director Lee Staggs said. “I guess right now that flap isn’t working.”
Photo by Marcus Frazier
The river water covers the street entirely and was approximately a foot deep Friday afternoon.
Without the city’s intervention, when the river rises to the level of the street, the street will fill with water.
The only water that is on the street right now is water that has seeped through the sandbags and a small amount of rainwater, Staggs said.
“We don’t expect a lot of rain to come through, and it’s not like we’re going to be recycling water fresh from the river back into it,” he said.
At the present, the street department has dug out an area and dropped something akin to a concrete kiddie pool — approximately three by five feet — for the water to drain into.
From there, the water is pumped back into the river.
Though the street might have to be eventually closed, Staggs said he doesn’t expect it will come to that.
More pressing is the safety issue presented by people who want to come and see the river firsthand.
“A lot of people want to come and sightsee, but they don’t want to stay on the riverwalk,” Staggs said. “They want to walk right out to the edge of the water, and that’s very dangerous. This is the Mississippi River we’re dealing with, and if it gets too bad we’ll shut down the whole riverwalk to make sure it stays safe.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. Corps of Engineers will conduct helicopter flights along the levees today and Sunday, starting at the Arkansas border to the Old River lock and dam structure, Levee Board President Reynold Minsky said.
“They’ll be going over those levees real slow to check them out,” Minsky said.
The river, which stands at approximately 55 feet today, is expected to crest at 56.5 feet April 20.
Comments
Posted by Roy (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 12:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Glad to see tax payer money going for such a good cause............NOT. This is something that should have never been built in these place and now hard earn money going down the drain with the water.
Posted by kd (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 1:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Agreed. Building the walking path and benches was okay, but locating a hospital and other things there was just foolish.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 3:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I went to look at the water and let me tell you i can not believe the boat is still open and operating...I am very shocked at this decison..whoever it is making it..I am still in shock....
Posted by ford30 (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 5:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
why wouldn't the boat be open after all it is a boat?? and as for the river front in vidalia the water has not flooded the hospitals or hotel as of yet?? not saying it wont happen but there are chances on anything you do.. now maybe they should have rethought the dainage issue for the street.. that doesn't seem to have been the best thing to have done..
Posted by SimpleSimon (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 5:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
To Roy and all the rest of the naysayers: Have you even been on the riverfront lately while the water is high? Why do you have such negativity? Even if the water backs up into the street and floods it to where its impassable at low points there is still a good ways before it starts to impact on the property built there as they are built up even higher. I walked the riverwalk yesterday afternoon so I know how high the river is do you?
Fire: I am with you I cant believe that the boat is still in operation either. Talk about a safety hazard. Now, if something happens to someone on that boat directly related to the water the family of the affected person would have undeniable litigation against not only the boat but the city of Natchez itself because its the only thing safe to go to over there... And in light of the scuttled economy and the floundering growth rate in Natchez (though I hear that bankruptcy and foreclosures are on the rise) was that a wise call.
See Roy negativity can cut both ways. happens that a lot of us are proud of our riverfront, glad to see the business's, and sick of hearing the negativity.
Posted by SimpleSimon (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 5:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Ford, I hear and understand your comment. Said without negativity... From what I hear the drainage pipes have a flap on them that is supposed to act like a back flow preventor in a water line. Perhaps they need to have a manual valved back flow preventor installed in the future instead of relying on mechanical that can fail because of disuse and or trash collecting in the pipes. we have had that happen in water pipes with a constant positive and negative pressure. Nothing that man makes or builds is infalliable... sometimes you have to wait and see what fails before you can make it better... Will wait and see...
Posted by cablegirl75 (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 8:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I was waiting for this. It was a great idea for the Riverfront but steps should have been taken. I don't know what knd of steps could have been taken except to build somewhere else. Most people know that you can't predict what the Great Mississippi is going to do. But you know that at some point it IS going to flood.
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 8:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
By the by...the gambling "boat" is a barge with no motor. Visit the video section of WLBT television station and see the loose barges in Vicksburg. This one gets loose, it will hit the bridge before the tugs can get to it!
Posted by SimpleSimon (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I wonder what effect a medium sized tree moving at 10 to fifteen mph would have on the "boat" and its mooring lines...
Posted by Choctaw (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They have already reported that the Street going to the Casino parking lot is closed right past the parking lot to through traffic! The rest of the street is flooded! Only the Casino van that takes the people to the boat is allowed to go down that steep street to let people out so they can get on the boat!
To me,,,,thats kind of dumb! What would keep that van from going into the water with it loaded down with gamblers??
Too risky!!!
Posted by picture_music101 (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this going to come up through all drains??????
Posted by SimpleSimon (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 9:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just the ones on river front and that depending on how many pipes run out, how they are connected, and the condition of back flow preventor. What we have to watch for is sand boils...
Posted by cjc3 (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 10:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Isle of Capri is a very dangerous place right now, I work there! I have many fears of what may happen. The managers are wanting to close the doors but have to have the order from Mayor Phillip West. He is so concerned about the money the city will lose that he can't see the real dangers. He just keeps pushing for another day. This says a lot about our Mayor! Greed!
Posted by lambchop (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 10:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Forget about "can't believe the boat is still open" to I can believe anyone is foolish enough to go and get on it. If the people stayed away there would be no reason to be open during this high water episode.
Posted by ford30 (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
simon i really enjoy reading your posts.. no negativity and i'm with you on the river front... its a very pretty, clean , enjoyable place.. for a city our size we have a super nice river front area.. and ours is not the only one around they are all up and down the mississippi.. where ever you build there will always be something that can destroy it.. i believe the businesses on the riverfront are safe and will be fine and if for some reason the water did get inside the business i do believe that we have much more to worry about than the riverfront.. like the levee system around us all together ... so instead of having all the negative comments about teh river front lets be positive and hopeful that everything remains safe and there are no catastrophes... and cjc i haven't been to the casino lately havent even been down silver st since the water overtook the road so i'm not sure of the dangers there.. if there is danger i surely hope they will change something rather it is closing it or whatever..
Posted by sparky018 (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 1:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think the riverfront in Vidalia is a great idea as well! It is built up higher to keep from water damage! The thing is, They have the river cresting at 56 feet now! Do You actually believe that? Look at all of the rain they are getting up north of Mississippi that still has to come our way! They keep raising and lowering and then raising the crest again! The safest bet is to say it will reach 60 feet! They should of said this from the get go! It is time for a 100 year flood people! If they would just admitt that there is a possibility for it to get up to 60 feet then that will give people that the water hasn't affected yet ( but soon will within a foot) the time to get out! The government and everyone having anything to do with it always waits for the last minute! Just take precaution and enjoy the high waters and be safe! It is a very nice site to see (even though my camp is under water on old river).
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 4:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
bucket has a reason to worry about the casino shutting down for high water...they say it will be up thru mid summer.if the casino shutsdown for 3months or so it may never open again
Posted by hitormiss (anonymous) on April 12, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
shedevil,
Once again your quick comments are wrong. No EVER said the casino will be closed for 3 months. It will open again.
Posted by shedevil (anonymous) on April 13, 2008 at 4:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)
some say days,bucket says weeks,,,expect months.do youre homework...just look at all of the water and ice up north that has to come down the river....it will drop a few feet then will rise even higher than the current predicted crest
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