News from Vicksburg, MS

2011-05-23T08:11:00.001-07:00

Some Photos of the April/May 2011 great flood Vicksburg,MS Area

Figure 1 Yazoo river backwater flooded areas north of Redwood, MS 4/1/2011

Figure 2 Looking toward Vicksburg and the river May 14,2011 from 2000’. The Headquarters of the Vicksburg District, on Clay St., of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is shown in the foreground.

Figure 3 Aerial view from 2000’, looking past the Vickburg National Military Park toward the flooded areas of the MS river. The town of Vicksburg is on the left. May 14, 2011

Figure 4 Flooded areas north of Vicksburg around the HWY 61/HWY3 interesection and the redwood Elementary school. May 14,2011

Figure 5 Farm north of town on Highway 3 just on the border between the MS counties Warren and Yazoo. I lived here for a couple of years in the 1960s when my stepfather Henry L. McKnight owned about 400 acres around this current property. 4/1/2011 I checked again this month and this area was protected from backwatering flooding by the new levees when I flew over 5/20/2011.

Figure 6 First of a series of backwater flooding areas west of HWY 3 south of the Hearn farm and north of the Simrall’s planation. 5/20/2011

Figure 7 Second photo in the series flying west of HWY 3 and south toward Redwood, MS 5/20/2011

Figure 8 Third in the series taken from 2000’ flying south toward Vicksburg while still north of Redwood.

Figure 9 Backwater levees south of Redwood, north of Vicksburg east of Eagle Lake

Figure 10 Fifth in the series showing the Steele Bayou flood control structures. As of the date of this photo 5/20/2011 they had not overtopped as predicted by the Corps a week earlier. Definitely good news for the people farming from here up toward Rolling Fork, MS .

Figure 11 Next in the series flying south toward Vicksburg and the Port of Vicksburg area. The west sides of these levees are covered/reinforced by rubber sheets (for about 5 miles according to the Corps press release).

Figure 12 Final photo in the series showing the Port of Vicksburg area in the upper right.

Figure 13 Yazoo river flooded areas around Sartaria, MS. For some other pictures backwater floods in this area see the blog posting from two years ago.

Figure 14 More backwater flooded farm fields north of Redwood, MS.

Figure 15 Flooded areas around Sartaria.

Figure 16 International Paper Company site north of Redwood, MS.

Figure 17 May 14 photo of same location

Figure 18 Flooded areas of Delta National Forest northwest of Redwood, 4/1/2011.

Figure 20 Towboat pushing river barges on the river just north of the Eagle Lake area.

Figure 21 Flooded grain terminal site on the west side of the MS river north of Vicksburg. May 14,2011

Figure 22 Tara wildlife refuge, Eagle Lake, MS.

Figure 23 Hunting lodge just south of Eagle Lake.

Figure 24 Steele Bayou, Yazoo river control structure which is located just east of Eagle Lake MS, north of Vicksburg.

Figure 25 May 14 photo of Steele Bayou control structure

Figure 26 May 14 photos of backwater levees south of the Steele Bayou structure which protect the area going toward Rolling Fork. The north side of the levees have been reinforced with vinyl covers (looked like for about 1 mile).
Figure 27 Backwater area of the Yazoo between Redwood and Yazoo city west of state HWY 3 4/1/2011

Figure 28 Anderson Tully lumber yards located north of Vicksburg, MS just off of Hwy 61N.

Figure 29 May 14 photo of same area

Figure 30 Port of Vicksburg, MS located north of town.

Figure 31 May 14th photo of this

Figure 32 another May 14th photo of this area

Figure 33 I-20 Interstate Hwy Bridge one of two bridges that cross the MS river at Vicksburg. In this picture taken April 1,2011 some tow boats are trying to remove some barges that got caught on the bridge piers. The accident was caused by the unpredictable high water current condictions which exist when the river is at a yearly high water cresting mark 43.3 ft. Top ten historical flood stages reached during the past 10 years are 1) May23,2010 42.8, 2)May 27,2009 47.5, 3) April 19,2008 50.9, 4) Jan. 31, 2005 44.5, 5)May 29,2003 43.0, 6)June 3, 2002 45.4, 7)May 14,1998 43.6, 8)March 22,1997 49.1, 9) May 27, 1983 49.3, 10)May 13,1973 51.6. Source Vicksburg Post, Friday April 1,2011.

Figure 34 The Tomato Place, a good place on Hwy 61 South of town to stop for lunch.

Figure 35 Flooded areas west of the Tomato Place, May 14,2011

Figure 36 On the west side of the Ms river from Vicksburg at Delta La is where a large number of concrete mats used to stabilized the Ms river banks are stored.

Figure 37 Flooded areas around Letourneau, MS May 14,2011.

Figure 38 Another photo of the same area

Figure 39 Ms river banks on its east side just north of where the Yazoo river diversion canal enters the river south of the city of Vicksburg.

Figure 40 Vicksburg waterfront from 2000’ May 14 without telephoto lens, another photo of this area before the floods and some photos of the Vicksburg area with the telephoto lens see the web site:
http;www.ourprayergroupnews.blogspot.com

Figure 41 East side of MS river looking south from the downtown area toward the Interstate bridge and the railroad bridge.4/1/2011

Figure 42 May 14 photo of same area

Figure 43 Looking at Clay St. in the east side of downtown Vicksburg and the former Mercy Hospital which was run by the Sisters of Mercy for many years.

Figure 44 The island of St. Martin in the eastern Caribbean ocean. A Dutch/French protectorate 186 nm east of Puerto Rico, which is the site of the training for the America’s cup sailboat races. Picture taken from the New Holland cruise line ship Neuew Amsterdaam.

Figure 45 Sea harbor at St. Martin

2011-02-20T11:50:00.000-08:00

VICKSBURG, MS FROM THE AIR, FEBRUARY 2010

Figure 1 looking west (from 2000’) February 16,2010.

Figure 2 The two bridges over the MS river at Vicksburg, MS (looking southwest from 2000’)

Figure 3 I-20 interchanges (Halls Ferry Road exit) at Vicksburg, MS

Figure 4 Another, closer, view of the two MS river bridges and the Ameristar casino.

Figure 5 South end of Drummond St, Vicksburg HS stadium, city park.

Figure 6 3000 block of Drummond St., Markham St., Candy St., and 2nd St. in Vicksburg.

Figure 7 Another view of the two MS river bridges from 2000, this time looking southeast from the Louisiana side of the river. As seen from the exposed banks, the river is running relatively low on this day.

Figure 8 View of the Vicksburg riverfront/casino area looking northeast.

Figure 9 The town center, with Holy Trinity Episcopal, First Baptist, First Presbyterian, Crawford St. Methodist Church, in center of photograph.

Figure 10 3000 block of Drummond St. looking toward town, Mulvihill is in the lower right corner

Figure 11 Railroad switching yards at the riverfront area of the Yazoo Diversion canal.

Figure 12 Hotel Vicksburg, Old Court

Figure 13 Riverfront casino on Yazoo River diversion canal.

Figure 14 Site of new Corps of Engineers Historical Museum ( inside of dredge).

Figure 15 Illinois central depot, site of new museum. My grandfather, Wm. M. Calohan was the freight agent in charge there during the 1930s.

Figure 16 Port of Vicksburg, located north of town off of Highway 61.

Figure 17 Some further areas of the Port have been developed in the last 20 years.

Figure 18 Crawford St., Clay St., City hall, St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Trustmark bank. Aeolian apartments, Southern Cultural Heritage Complex.

Figure 19 Cherry St. railroad overpass, site of old passenger train station in the 1950s.

Figure 20 All Saints Episcopal School complex on south Confederate Ave.. presently leased by Americorps.

Figure 21 Temple High School located off of Mission 66.

Figure 22 Sky Farm city cemetery, harbor project in top of picture.

Figure 23 The Anderson-Tully lumber mills, north of town.

Figure 24 River Region Medical Center, located on the Interstate 20 to HWY 61N city bypass route toward Redwood, MS.

Figure 25 Big Black river bridge located on the Warren/Hinds co line as Interstate 20 goes over the river east of town.

Figure 26 The Hawkins Field, Jackson airport, home base of Cessna 5009H and the crosswinds flying club. There are two runways for north south and east west landings: with magnetic headings of 16/34 degrees and 9/27 degrees. FAA control tower is in the center right of the picture. Jackson 220 bypass is in the lower part of the photograph.

Figure 29 Illinois monument, Vicksburg National Military Park

Figure 30 I-20 Interstate corridor that runs eastward
Toward Jackson MS after crossing MS river bridge at
Vicksburg (Indiana Ave. exit is in top left of photo).

Figure 31 View North up river from 1500’ flying over
Vicksburg. Normally, there is quite a lot of barge traffic
Flowing on the river.

Figure 32 Vicksburg Country Club from 1500’, looking northward

Figure 33 Back nine fairways 16, 13, 12 at VCC

Figure 34 New outlet mall and cracker barrel restaurant
Located off the main Clay St. exit from I-20, and Hwy 80.

Figure 35 Vicksburg Clear Creak public golf course, located
off the i-20 interstate at the Bovina exit.

2009-04-25T14:48:00.000-07:00

April 2009 flight southward down the MS River
from Greenville, MS to Fort Adams, MS

Figure 1 Aircraft (Cessna 172 5009H) Situated over Lake Bolivar at 10,500’ looking south to Lake Ferguson, north of Greenville, MS just west of Arkansas city, Ark.
Lat. 33 deg. 36 min. Long. 91 deg. 05 min 30 sec. the MS river stretches and winds southward towards Vicksburg and Natchez from here.

Figure 2 same as above

Figure 3 Some what closer to Greenville than in the above phots. Picture taken from 9500' 33 deg 27 min. The river has the ox-bow Lake Lee(shown here just to the left
of the aircraft’s propeller) and Lake Washington on its east side as you go southward towards Mayersville, MS.

Figure 4 Vicksburg District, Corps of Engineer survey maps of 200 years of the river’s courses
In these areas (reaches of the river). City of Greenville is at right mid center of the
Map Lake Lee and Lake Washington are to the south from there.
Blue color represents Lt. Ross’s 1765 survey
Red US Army Corps of Engineers 1820-1830 survey
Green 1881 1895 survey
Yellow 1930-1933 survey
This photocopy is high resolution and can be enlarged in your browser if you click on it.

Figure 5 Flying over Mayersville, NS looking south along the River Road (Hwy 1) approaching Vicksburg, 33 deg. and 19 min. at 9500'. There are many islands or
River channel bars along most streches of the river. And, ox bow lakes such as Lake Chotard and Eagle Lake shown here are on both sides of the river. They represent
former channels of the river that have been cut-off as the river changes its course.

Figure 6 9500' over Mayersville, MS lat 32 deg. 51 min., long. 91 deg. 06 min.

Figure 7 Corps survey maps of this area. the city of Vicksburg is at the map's lower right corner. The years the surveys were made are color coded as in the figure
Eagle Lake, Chotard Lake, Mayersville, the Great River Road Hwy 1 (which are referenced in other photos in this blog are above Vicksburg on the MS side.

Figure 7 North of Vicksburg,MS (on the Louisiana side of the river) 9500' altitude lat. 32 deg. 26 min long. 91 deg. 03 min.

Figure 9 North of Vicksburg, MS, approaching the Vicksburg/Talluhah airport from the Louisiania side of the river.

Figure 10 MS river bridge at Vicksburg, MS 3500'

Figure 11 Port of Vicksburg (north of the city) from 6500' . Part of the Yazoo river diversion channel which empties into the MS river provides access to the Port

Figure 12 City of Vicksburg from 7000' looking East from north of the city on the Louisiania side of the river

Figure 13 8500' Letourneau, MS (the company there employs a large number of workers and constructs large open ocean oil rigs )

Figure 14 looking south toward Port Gibson from west of Letourneau, MS at 9500'. As you head southward from here there is Davis island (former river island
plantation of Jefferson Davis)and the ox-bow lakes, Lake St. Joseph, Yucatan Lake, Lake Bruin and Lake St. John on the Louisiana side of the river.

Figure 15 historic MS river channels from Vicksburg south to Natchez.
The southern part of the city of Vicksburg are in the upper right corner, area to the north of Natchez in the lower right.
One problem I have with the District using Lt. Ross’s 1790 (in blue) survey
data is that Andrew Ellicott’s trip and survey of 1798 showed the longitude reference data
used on maps before that time was up to 60 nm wrong. At that time land surveyor’s were
using star time to compute longitude positions. But, the accuracy of the measuring instruments
were not very precise. Ellicott adapted the Jesuit astronomer Ferrar’s method of making records of the positions of the
moons of Jupiter on the evenings in which star time observations were made. Then.back from the trip these positions could be
used to determine more precisely the longitudinal location on earth. He and Ferrar knew from there study of Isaac Newton’s
theories of celestial mechanics that the value of the periods
of the multiple orbits of Jupiter’s satellites were incommensurable and allowed this.
(This idea of how to tell star time using Jupiter’s satellites actually goes back to Gallileo. More, historical comments
about this can be found in his journal and historical information posted at
http://www.yhwhschofchrist.org main page.)

Figure 16 9500' lat. 31 deg. 26 min., long. 91 deg. 24 min. west of Natchez, MS

Figure 17 flying south toward Lake St. John looking east toward city of Natchez, MS (about 20 miles to the south of here)
and the bridge that crosses the river there. lat. 31 deg. 35 min. , long. 91 deg. 30 min.

Figure 19 City of Natchez, Ms and the bridge that crosses the MS river there. The towns in LA directly below the aircraft are Vidalia and Ferriday.

Figure 20 9500' over Lake Mary, MS lat 31 deg. 16 min., long. 91 deg. 30 ' , 9500' looking south toward Woodville, MS and Fort Adams (Angola Federal
Prison is located there where the river bends at the Southwest tip of Mississippi)

Figure 21 Historic channels of the MS River from Natchez south to just above
Ft. Adams. St. Mary’s ox bow lake and the Homochitto river are in the lower
Right corner. Map may be enlarged in our browser by clicking on it.

Figure 22 9000’ Crossing Hwy 61, which proceeds southward from Natchez, MS to Baton Rouga, LA and flying up the Homochitto River in order to return
to Hawkins field Jackson, MS.

Figure 23 heading northeast toward Brookhaven, MS following the Homochitto River at 8000'

October 2008 Colorado Springs Trip, Part I

2009-04-10T10:17:00.000-07:00

October 23,24 2008 Flight up the Red River valley from Jackson, MS to Monroe LA to Witchita Falls, Texas,
Tucumcara NM, Colorado Springs CO
And return October 25,26 down the Arkansas River from Colorado Springs, CO along a route through Dodge City
Kansas, Fort Smith AR, Little Rock, Greenville, MS

Figure 1 Started out flying about an hour and a half in whiteout IFR conditions from Jackson, Hawkins
Field westward to Monroe, LA. This picture is taken at 10/23 3000’ about 1:30pm after breaking out
on the other side of the front. 32 deg.30 min. latitude 92 deg. 20 min. longitude. There were still some
rainshowers after this (see figure 2) to fly through but you could see for at least 10 miles through them.

Figure 2 33 deg. 30 min. latitude, 92 deg. 30 min. longitude.

Figure 3 Picture taken at 4500’ looking down into the Red River just west of Wichita Falls, TX. 34 deg.
30 min. latitude 100 deg. longitude

Figure 4 View of the Red River valley from 6500’ along route from Wichita Falls, TX to Tucumcari NM
34 deg. 40 min. latitude, 101 deg. 50 min. longitude 10/24/2008
Photo 7

Figure 5 6500’ same route as last
photo 8

Figure 6 Coming up the river valley to the top of the plateau southeast of Amarillo that leds to
Tucumcari. photo 9

Figure 7 8500’ altitude 35 deg. 20 min. latitude, 103 deg. 40 min. longitude approaching Tucumcari, NM photo 10

Figure 8 photo from 10,500’ altitude along route from Tucumcari, NM to a higher land plateau at
Las Vegas CO photo 11

Figure 9 10,500’ altitude further along same route as previous
photo 12

Figure 10 10,500’ nearing Las Vegas CO, Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the background. photo 13

Figure 11 Town of Las Vegas CO from 11,500’ altitude.
Photo 15

Figure 12 photo from 11,500’ , 36 deg, 20 min. latitude 105 deg. 15 min. longitude along route from
Las Vegas CO to Cimmaron CO. Twin peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and the Philmont
Eagle scout ranch in the background.
The twin peaks are Eagle Nest Peak at 13,161’ and another at 12,441’ 10/24/2008.
Photo 18

Figure 13 Further north along the route from Cimarron to Colorado Springs (the twins peaks from
The previous photo are on the left. Photo is again taken from 11,500’
Photo 19

October 2008 Colorado Springs Trip, Part II

2009-04-10T09:19:00.001-07:00

October 23,24 2008 Flight up the Red River valley from Jackson, MS to Monroe LA to Witchita Falls, Texas,
Tucumcara NM, Colorado Springs CO
And return October 25,26 down the Arkansas River from Colorado Springs, CO along a route through Dodge City
Kansas, Fort Smith AR, Little Rock, Greenville, MS

Figure 14 Photo from 13,500’ 104 deg. 30 min. longitude 37 deg. 10’ min. latitude. The mountains in
The center of the photo are called the Spanish Peaks.
10/24/2008 photo 21

Figure 15 Descending from 13,500’ coming into Pueblo, CO and Colorado Springs CO. Airspace to
The west of the route is the La Veta High military operations areas used by the Air Force Academy to
Train cadets. 10/24/2008 Photo 24

Figure 16 photo taken 10/25/2008 from 9500’ near Holly KS (38 deg. Latitude 102 deg. Longitude) flying a
return route from Colorado Springs CO to Fort Smith AR. I followed the Arkansas River to
Dodge City KS and then down To Tulsa OK and Fort Smith AR. Photo 27

Figure 17 Garden City Kansas along the Arkansas River 10/25/2008 from 9500’ photo 28

Figure 18 Coming in to land and refuel at Dodge City, KS, photo taken 10/25/2008 from 5500’ Photo 30

Figure 19 Tulsa OK from 5500’ 10/25/2008 photo 31

Figure 20 Fort Smith ARK from 3500’ 10/16/2008 photo 32

Figure 21 Arkansas River from 10,500’. Photo 10/26/2008 taken along route of flight from Fort Smith AR
To Little Rock, ARK. Photo 34

Figure 22 LIGHT ON THE PATH 1
Photo taken 10/26/2008 at 10,500’ latitude 35 deg. 10 min. longitude 93 deg. 20 min. from Cessna 182 8189G
while flying South Easterly from Little Rock AR toward Greenville, MS photo 35

Figure 24 LIGHT ON THE PATH 2
Photo taken at 10/26/2008 9,500’ from Cessna 182 8189G latitude 34 deg. 50 min. longitude 92 deg.
while flying South Easterly from Little Rock AR toward Greenville, MS photo 36

Figure 25 LIGHT ON THE PATH 3
Photo taken 10/26/2008 at 9,500’ from Cessna 182 8189G latitude 33 deg. 50 min. longitude 91 deg 20 min..
while flying South Easterly from Little Rock AR toward Greenville, MS photo 37

2009-04-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

April/May 2008
The river crested Saturday at about 53’ two weeks earlier then when this flight was made .
Below are some before and after flood photos. The before photos were taken in October of 2006 and the
After during the last week of April of 2008

Figure 1
Before the flood photo:
Looking north from 5000’ 90 deg.00’ long. 32 deg. 44’ lat. (about 10 miles north of Mayersville) 11:04 am 10/8/2006

Figure 2 looking south from the same position at same time

Figure 3
Just after the crest of the flood photo
river at flood stage of 50.3’ picture taken looking south from 32 deg. 44’ at 3500’ 4/29/2008 at 1:54 pm

Figure 4 looking west toward the lakes north of Chotard lake, from about same lat. and long as previous figure 1:49 pm 4/29/2008

Figure 5 looking north toward Lake Providence from the same location at figures 5,6 4/29/2008

Figure 6 Eagle lake from the west side of the river at 4000’ 4/29/2008 (river at flood stage of 50.3’

Figure 7 looking north from 5000’ 91 deg. Long. 32 deg. 28’ lat. (about 5 miles south of Lake Providence) at 11:14 am 10/8/2006

Figure 8 roughly the same spot, 4000’ 4/29/2008 river at flood stage

Figure 9 looking south from same altitude and position, same date (10/8/2006) and time, toward Vicksburg

Figure 10 Same view afternoon of 4/29/2008

Figure 11 Two views of 1) Flooded area south of Vicksburg looking towards the airport and Letourneau 2) closer look at the areas around Letourneau. Both shots taken 4/29/2008 river stage 50.3’

Figure 12 picture taken at 2:27 pm 4/29/2008 flying over the city of Vicksburg looking at the areas flooded north of town from an altitude of 10,000’

Figure 13 View, 2:32 pm, from further up north of Vicksburg at 8800’ looking towards the flooded fields north of Redwood up to the Sartartia area. 4/29/2008

Figure 14 View of the flooded areas west of the Yazoo around Satarta from a lower altitude of 3500’

Figure 16 View of the flooded areas east of Valley Park around the Big Sunflower from 3500’. This picture was taken 10 miles west of the previous one.

Figure 17
Cockpit instrument rack as viewed from the pilot’s seat in an instrument flight rules equiped (IFR) Cessna 182, N8189G.
Navigational instruments:
On left of center there is clockwise from upper left : the altimeter, the two very-high frequency omni directional receivers (VOR) course deviation needles. These are tuned from the frequencies set in radios stacked in the second level on the middle (above the required transponder which identifies the aircraft to flight controllers. Finally finishing the trip around the circle there is the vertical speed indicator. On the right of center there is…moving down from the top from left to right .. the left fuel tank fuel indicator, ammeter, right fuel tank fuel indicator. Then on the row below that, again moving left to right …cylinder head temperature, oil temperature, and oil pressure . Below that the circular gages indicate engine manifold pressure and engine revolutions per minute (RPM) gage respectively . Note the Garmin Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) 300 receiver directly below the radio switch panel. Its moving map display allows for much better display of map and other routing information for a single pilot than previously.
The main flight instruments are not shown in this picture.
To the left of the altimeter there is the attitude indicator that the pilot uses to control aircraft pitch. Below the attitude indicator there is a turn and bank indicator used to control bank. Below the transponder there is the throttle, propeller pitch, and mixture controls that are used to control power. Below these controls are the elevator and rudder trim wheels that are used to make fine adjustment to the aircraft’s pitch and turning angles.

2009-04-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

Figure 1 Light on the Path III
The aircraft, Cessna 8189G, and pilot flew to and landed at New Orleans Lakefront airport (March 19, 2009 ).
Picture taken the next day from 1800’ flying from Slidell, LA to Bay St. Louis, MS, March 20,2009.

Figure 2 Further along the route (same altitude, latitude 30 deg. 10 min, longitude 90 degrees 10 minutes)… entrance to the intercoastal waterway . These coastal wetlands (along with the barrier islands to the south) provide protection for the City of New Orleans from hurricane waters that would otherwise raise the level of Lake Pontchartrain to much.

Figure 3 same as above, a little further along

Figure 4 Flying further east along, above the LA, MS intercoastal waterway, the route mentioned above.

Figure 5 Hwy 90 Bridge from where the Pearl River empties into the northeast entrance to Lake Pontchartrain (altitude about 1800’). This is one possible site for a new hurricane protection structure that would work similar to that in the low-lying easily flooded areas of Belgium.

Figure 6 Photo taken from above the city of Bay St. Louis, MS. From about 1800’, March 20, 2009. Many new homes have been built there since Hurricane Katrina. But, there was a narrow miss from flooding from another hurricane last August. The sea wall that protects the city from the East is not very high above normal sea level and new laws have required new construction to be based on using concrete pillars to elevate the home to the required heights (much the same as homes in the Florida Keys were required to do this many years ago).

Figure 7 Picture taken flying over Pass Christian, MS from about 3500’ (which is on the other side of the by from Bay St. Louis) January 2006, six months after Hurricane Katrina. It is hard to see at this resolution but, because of wind damage, most of the homes had blue tarp roots covering over them then.