Southeast Louisiana Flood
Protection Authority – East
(SLFPA-E) and Pontchartrain
Levee District
Recommendations for
Early Emergency Restoration
Projects for the
Pontchartrain Basin
"Thinking and Acting Regionally"
SLFPA-E Direction to Coastal Advisory
Committee (CAC)
Coordinate Quarterly Reviews to monitor status of
coastal projects in the Pontchartrain Basin. Reviews
include projects within multiple authorities.
Develop an inventory of Pontchartrain Basin coastal
projects that:
1) could enhance storm protection and
2) are ready to be implemented ASAP
Emergency Restoration Criteria
(1) The action is needed to avoid irreversible loss of natural resources, or to
prevent or reduce any continuing danger to natural resources or similar need
for emergency action;
(2) The action will not be undertaken by the lead response agency;
(3) The action is feasible and likely to succeed;
(4) Delay of the action to complete the restoration planning process established
in this part likely would result in increased natural resource damages; and
(5) The costs of the action are not unreasonable.
15 C.F.R. § 990.26(a).
IMMEDIATE Project
Recommendations
• Considering proximity to direct oil impact,
ecologic value, constructability and strong
support, the following five (5) projects are
recommend as immediate NRDA priorities for
the Pontchartrain Basin. The projects are
within the four (4) parishes most impacted by
the Deepwater Horizon oil and are relatively
proportionate in cost to impact.
Green polygons are
generalized outlines of oiled
marshes from BP
?
1
2
“IMMEDIATE Project
Recommendations”
3
4
1.North Shore Marshes
2.Alligator Bend Marsh
Creation and Shoreline
Protection
3.Biloxi Marsh
4.Chandeleur Islands
5
5.Pass a Loutre Restoration
1. North Shore Marsh Creation
• (St. Tammany Parish) This project is located along the
northshore of Lake Pontchartrain where direct oil impacted
the shoreline and interior ponds. The project area extends
from Goose Point to Highway 11. The restoration technique
is identical to a recently completed CWPPRA project titled
“Goose Point/Pointe Platte Marsh Creation”. The project has
strong support of St. Tammany Parish and could be complete
within two years. Much of the prior design work for the
completed project could be used to complete design for the
new projects. The estimated cost is $40,000,000.
http://lacoast.gov/new/Projects/Info.aspx?num=PO-33
2. Alligator Bend Marsh Creation and
Shoreline Protection
• (Orleans Parish) This project is located south of Pass Rigolets
where direct oiling occurred in several locations. Currently,
the shoreline protection component is being designed by the
CWPPRA program and should be completed in approximately
nine months. The marsh creation component was in the
original CWPPRA approved project but was dropped because
it is located in a private mitigation bank. It was assumed the
project would be completed through mitigation funds. That
has not occurred. The marsh creation project is already
partially permitted. Some minor design work may be need to
be completed, but can be accomplished quickly. The marsh
creation and shoreline protection project was selected by the
five CWPPRA agencies and is supported by Orleans and St.
Tammany Parishes. Several small additional sites near the
Rigolets Pass could also be included. The project cost is
estimated to be $50,000,000.
http://lacoast.gov/new/Projects/Info.aspx?num=PO-34
3. Biloxi Marsh
• (St. Bernard Parish) The outer Biloxi Marsh which
faces Chandeleur Sound had numerous oiled marsh
islands. Oyster leases scattered throughout the
Biloxi Marsh have yet to be determined impacts from
oil. The State Master Plan calls for restoration of
the Biloxi Marshes. Although specific projects are
not designed, oyster reef restoration has been
occurring at numerous sites in Louisiana and is
recommended here. These projects can be designed
and constructed quickly. The project cost is
estimated to be $50,000,000.
4. Chandeleur Islands
• (St. Bernard Parish) The Chandeleur Islands were
oiled at numerous locations and in addition had a
berm constructed to intercept oil. The berm project
is being modified to use residual funds to improve
the restoration value. This will not sufficiently
address the condition of the Chandeleur Islands. The
proposed project is to continue to pump sand for
beach nourishment as guided by the US Fish and
Wildlife managers for the Breton National
Refuge. The project cost is estimated to be
$100,000,000.
5. Pass a Loutre Restoration
• (Plaquemines Parish) Pass a Loutre is one of the last major
distributaries of the Mississippi Delta. It was the first area
oiled and was oiled on numerous occasions. Pass a Loutre
has shoaled in recent years due to Federal dredge disposal
practices. The State of Louisiana, the Lake Pontchartrain
Basin Foundation, and others have requested the channel be
re-opened to reestablish the hydrology of the
distributary. Because of the blockage (due to material
disposal) the outer delta at Pass a Loutre is beginning to
erode. North of Pass a Loutre is the Delta National Wildlife
Refuge. South of it is the Pass a Loutre Wildlife Management
Area. The project would dredge the channel to specific
dimensions and use the material beneficially in the adjacent
conservation areas. The benefits are threefold. The channel
hydrology would be reestablished; the dredge material could
create over 10,000 acres of wetlands, and the outer delta that
is currently eroding could be sustained. The project cost is
estimated to be $250,000,000.
Green polygons are
generalized outlines of oiled
marshes from BP
?
$40M
$50M
“IMMEDIATE Project
Recommendations”
$50M
1.North Shore Marshes
$100M2.Alligator Bend Marsh
Creation and Shoreline
Protection
3.Biloxi Marsh
4.Chandeleur Islands
$250M
5.Pass a Loutre Restoration
Early Emergency Restoration List
Recommendations
Ranking:
- HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
- RECOMMENDED
- LOW RECOMMENDATION
- NOT RECOMMENDED at this time
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
12
24/29
33
35
Alligator Bend
Hope Canal Diversion
LaBranche Wetlands Marsh Creation
MRGO Feasibility Study including PCLOD:
- Violet diversion,
- MRGO-Lake Borgne landbridge,
- East Orleans landbridge, and
- Bayou la Loutre ridge, Biloxi Marsh (west side only not the
landbridges)
28
Chandeleur Islands
21
White Ditch Diversion
11
Caernarvon CWPPRA project
Additional Project (not currently on list) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
- Biloxi Marsh land bridges reef construction (Violet re-establishes salinity)
RECOMMENDED:
• 23 Blind River/Convent (support construction of either the Blind River
or Hope Canal diversions).
• 9
Caernarvon LCA Modifications (Corps is in early stages of
formulating. Could be good but need more detail)
• Additional Projects (not currently on list) RECOMMENDED:
• - Removal of obsolete dams on the Bogue Chitta and Pearl Rivers. (While
in MS, these projects are close to oil impacted areas. Positive impacts to
St. Tammany, St. Bernard, and Orleans. Benefits to Gulf Sturgeon).
• - Frenier Wetlands/Bonnet Carre’ River re-introduction. (This project may
be implemented faster than either the Hope Canal or Blind River
Diversions. It is almost entirely in the hands of USACOE).
• - Orleans/Jefferson Lake Pontchartrain shoreline restoration
LOW RECOMMENDATION:
• 29 Bohemia Diversion (Project is within
SLFPA-E authority. Conceptual only currently;
should begin more detailed proposal.
CWPPRA has proposed a new diversion within
the spillway to discharge 10,000 cfs. While an
opportunity to implement a project easily,
area is one of the most stable along the coast
and not in need of restoration thus a low
priority for overall coastal sustainability).
NOT RECOMMENDED at this time:
• 55 Benny's Bay (similar to West Bay diversion
and would have same issues just on the
opposite (east) side of the river)
• 47 Fort St. Phillip (a natural splay has already
developed here)
• 26 White Ditch resurrection (now obsolete
with new, much larger White Ditch Diversion
proposed a few miles downriver).
These recommendations are
supported jointly by the SLFPA-E,
the Pontchartrain Levee District,
the parishes of St. Bernard, St.
Tammany, and Orleans, and the
Pontchartrain Basin Foundation
and in response to coastal
damages caused by Deepwater
Horizon oil spill.
"Thinking and Acting Regionally"