MORGANZA -- Government officials are working with farmers to develop a plan to drain flooded farmland between the Mississippi River and the Morganza Spillway in Pointe Coupee Parish.

That's in hopes the land can still be planted this summer, when the high river level recedes.

Whatever is developed for the area -- known as the Morganza forebay -- will be heavily dependent on nature.

Lt. Col. Murray Starkel, with the Army Corps of Engineers, says that based on long-range forecasts, a rapid draining of the land could begin as early as June 1.

The June 1 target date is when the river level in the forebay area is projected to drop to 49 feet, the height of the area's guide levees that protect the forebay land from most of the river's high-water events.

Farmers say they need the land to be dry in the first week of July to plant late crops. Starkel estimates it would take from 40 and 45 days to drain the forebay area.

If the river stays above 49 feet, the process could be delayed, and farmers wouldn't be able to plant.

If a rapid drainage project is determined feasible, it's still unclear who might pay for it.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)