Mississippi River Spillway

One of the recreational areas along the Bonnet Carré Spillway, between the Mississippi river and Lake Ponchatrain.

The Bonnet Carre Spillway consists of two basic components: a control structure along the east bank of the Mississippi River and a floodway that conveys the diverted flood waters to the lake. The control structure is a mechanically controlled concrete weir which extends for over a mile and a half parallel to the river. Confined by guide levees, the floodway stretches nearly six miles to Lake Pontchartrain.