The Army Corps of Engineers announced Wednesday that it already had closed three of the 17 open bays at the Morganza Spillway , which was opened May 14 to prevent the Mississippi from flooding New Orleans and Baton Rouge . The dam was closed August 15 to head off flooding in southern Louisiana . The dam diverted water down the Atchafalaya River and to the Gulf of Mexico . Three of the dam 's 17 opened bays had been closed by Wednesday .
The dam was closed August 15 to head off flooding in southern Louisiana . The dam diverted water down the Atchafalaya River and to the Gulf of Mexico . Three of the dam 's 17 opened bays had been closed by Wednesday .