NORCO, La. (AP) - The Army Corps of Engineers plans to practice removing and replacing the big wooden timbers in a spillway near New Orleans.

It says in a news release that the test is scheduled for Thursday morning at the Bonnet Carre Spillway in Norco. A crew will remove and replace 10 to 20 of the timbers called needles. The test is done when water is passing over the weir and through the needles, to simulate conditions of an actual spillway opening.

Operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway is very labor intensive, and it takes about two hours to lift and replace 10 to 20 needles. The Corps does not expect water to get high and fast enough to require an actual opening.