During the 2011 Mississippi River floods , the Old River complex was discharging more than into the Atchafalaya River , and the Morganza Floodway was discharging one-fourth of its capacity . If the Mississippi were allowed to flow freely , the shorter and steeper Atchafalaya would capture the main flow of the Mississippi , permitting the river to bypass its current path through the important ports of Baton Rouge and New Orleans . Despite control efforts , some researchers believe the likelihood of this event increases each year due to natural forces inherent to river deltas
2011 Mississippi River floods
2011 Mississippi River floods
Atchafalaya River