摘要: |
All eyes in the greater New Orleans region remain on a wedge of salt water pushing its way up the Lower Mississippi River from the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the fresh water supply for communities on both banks of the river. With the river near 3 feet at the Carrollton Gage in Uptown New Orleans and the flow rate at Belle Chasse, La., around 150,000 cubic feet per sec- ond (cfs.), salt water from the Gulf, more dense than fresh water, is able to push its way upstream. According to the New Orleans Engineer District, a flow of 300,000 cfs. is needed to keep salt water flushed out of the Mississippi River. |