The Army Corps of Engineers is set to open the Morganza Floodway this Sunday -- only the third time ever they've had to operate the structure. Among the environmental impacts officials are watching out for, is how it affects one of the major crawfish-producing regions.
"It may complicate things," said LSU AgCenter crawfish expert Dr. Greg Lutz. Lutz says the wild crawfish in the basin will either go with the flow, or grab hold and hang on for dear life. Either way, they'll be less likely to mosey their way into crawfish traps.
Commercial ponds in the area will be at risk of having predatory fish swept into them, said Lutz.
"We really have to work hard to make sure every last one is dead before the season starts again next year," he said.
Lutz says for 2019, there may be just three to four weeks left until the crawfish season's done.
"I think it's fair to say we've got less than a month left in this season."