2011 Spring Flood

Left to Right: George Arcement

USGS Louisiana Water Science Center Director George Arcement looks out onto Lake Murphy on the East Side of the Atchafalaya Basin. During the 2011 record-setting flood, high water levels have flushed out the stagnant waters in the back bayous in the Basin, replacing them with new, oxygenated, high-nutrient content waters.  As these floodwaters push out the stagnant water, the stagnant water is pushed ahead of the floodwaters.  In Lake Murphy, which is usually turgid, well-mixed water with a light brownish color, stagnant swamp water pushed out by the floodwaters has turned the lake black. This black water will continue to be pushed forward by the onrushing floodwaters.

Location: Lake Murphy, East Side of the Atchafalaya Basin, Louisiana