Mobile-Tensaw Delta inundated with extreme flooding second year running

Jeff Dute | By Jeff Dute |
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on April 17, 2014 at 5:30 AM, updated April 17, 2014 at 7:39 AM


Mobile-Tensaw Delta flooding 04-2014 Flood water inundates the Upper Delta WMA in Baldwin County 04-2014
For the second consecutive spring, the Mobile-Tensaw Delta has been inundated with flood water that has filled its entire 400-square-mile basin.

The Mobile River was forecast to crest at 13.2 feet on Wednesday, which is more than a foot above its 12-foot minor flood stage, as defined by the National Weather Service.

On the Delta, the Alabama River at the Claiborne Lock and Dam crested above 50 feet on Tuesday and the Tombigbee River reached 42 feet before also beginning a slow fall.

Compounding high-water issues and heavy debris loads downstream of the dam is the fact that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is being forced to dump a lot of water to maintain reservoir heights behind the dams, creating dangerous current conditions throughout the entire Delta.

With so much water picking up speed as it travels toward the Delta before spreading out, it will also generate unexpected cross-currents around points or where two creeks come together. Powerful swirling whirlpools can also form where it flows from the woods into main river channels or through sloughs and smaller creeks.

Here's the story and pictures from flooding on the Delta in February 2013.

Outside of the immediate dangers as the flooding is occurring, it's important to remember that periodic events such as this are good for Delta systems.

The current sweeps out the bad and as the water slows and falls back into river and creek banks, it deposits silts loaded with nutrients vital to the health of swamp plants that have evolved to thrive in it.

It's true that animals such as deer, rabbits and wild hogs can take a beating when the water gets this high, this fast, but I am amazed flood after flood how quickly they repopulate their homelands in the swamp.

I firmly believe deer and hogs especially travel the water's edge and begin the journey back home as soon as they're able to walk to it. That's how quickly tracks return to even the most remote parts of the Delta's heart after the water falls.

During a short tour of five sites on the Delta's eastern side I took Wednesday afternoon, the water was every bit as high as it was when the Alabama pushed past 50 feet in February 2013.

There was actually one truck/trailer combo parked at Cliff's Landing where one intrepid river rat had launched a rig into several feet of standing water over the parking lot.

At Lower Bryant Landing, the high water had cut off vehicle access to the houseboats, which are year-round residences for several families.

Those folks are using boats to get back and forth to their vehicles so they can get to work or buy supplies.

It was satisfying to see the new floating docks at Live Oak Landing performing as designed, sliding up their respective anchor pilings without getting into a bind.

It's always awe-inspiring to see Delta flooding at Hubbard Landing. I guess it's because you can get a real gauge of its true height in relation to the several riverbank houses built high on stilts.

Finally, I always like to ride up to the gate across the road leading into the swamp on the Upper Delta Wildlife Management Area's Zone A off St. Luke Church Road in the Tensaw community.

There's something cool about seeing the water roll through those swamp river bottoms at 5 knots or more. This is the first time, however, that I couldn't make it to the gate because water had poured out of French's Lake a quarter mile to the north, poured through a piney woods bottom and flooded the road.

It wasn't more than a foot or so deep across the road 100 yards from the gate, but it wasn't worth getting stuck in to reach the gate.

District V Supervising Wildlife Biologist Steve Barnett, who used to be the area supervisor on the Upper Delta, told me he's seen the water across the road there, but I'd never seen it for myself.

That's a lot of water, folks!