floodway, what that mean?

Question

Necesito traducir el siguiente parrafo. Gracias

The Army Corps of Engineers partially opened the Mississippi River's Morganza floodway May 14 to spare Baton Rouge and New Orleans from catastrophic flooding, but the water it was diverting from the Mississippi River into the Atchafalaya Basin still hadn't reached the town nearly a week later.

What does that mean? - Leatha, May 24, 2011

Answer 1

Basically, as I understand it, it lets flood water spill over onto a less inhabited area instead of devastating a heavily populated area downstream. Probably not very popular with the few people who do live there but then they don't have many votes.

Answer 2

usually the term is "spillway" - Canal de desagüe.

Answer 3