Morganza to the Gulf
Encyclopedia
The Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection Project is a flood protection system for Terrebonne Parish
and Lafourche Parish in the U.S. state
of Louisiana
. The targeted area is bounded on the west by Bayou Du Large and LA 311 (Louisiana State Highway 311) and on the east by Bayou Lafourche
. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the federal sponsor for this project, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
with the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District jointly serve as the local sponsor. The Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District will provide operations and maintenance once the system is complete.
. Deterioration of coastal marshes, as a result of saltwater intrusion, land subsidence and the lack of interchanges from the Mississippi River
have increased surge inundation. Reduce hurricane and flood damages in an environmentally sustainable manner in the Houma
area. The project will protect over 120,000 people and 1700 square miles (4,403 km²) of saline and fresh marshes, farmlands, heavy and light industry, residential, and other developed areas. Protect development and the remaining fragile marsh from hurricane storm surge.
The hurricane protection system will consist of approximately 72 miles (115.9 km) of earthen levee with 12 floodgate structures proposed for the navigable waterways and a lock structure in the Houma Navigational Canal measuring 200 feet (61 m) wide by 1200 feet (365.8 m) long. The structural features are integrated into the levee alignment to provide flood protection, drainage, and environmental benefits, while allowing navigational passage.
Water Supply Protection: This project will eliminate over $200,000 in annual water treatment costs.
Environmental Benefits: This project has net positive benefits to the marshes and wetlands in the Terrebonne Basin.
Safe Harbor: Fisherman will no longer have to leave the area in a storm event.
to the Gulf of Mexico
Hurricane Protection Project was authorized by Congress in 1992. Following completion of this report, the United States Congress
authorized a Feasibility Study in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1995 (Public Law 103-316). The Feasibility Study was completed in March 2002 and the Chief of Engineers letter was forwarded to the Secretary of the Army in August 2002 and supplemented in July 2003.
Total project cost: $886,700,000
Total federal cost: $576,355,000
Total non-federal cost: $310,345,000
The Senate voted 91 to 4 in favor of the Water Resources Development Act, an enormous water projects bill containing the levee system.
Congress has not passed a WRDA bill since 2000, and authorization for the Morganza project has stalled annually with it.
Next WRDA will head to conference committee, where the House and the Senate will iron out any differences between their versions of the bill. Last year, WRDA died in the waning hours of the Senate stuck in conference committee. But Jerome Zeringue, executive director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation Board, said that the May passage of WRDA and a lack of differences between the two bill versions should give committee members ample time fine tune WRDA before sending it on to the President's desk for signature.
WRDA may be passed to the President by the end of summer, said Zeringue.
With such an overwhelming majority of legislators voting for WRDA, Zeringue said he felt a veto by the President was unlikely.
"This is a great day for Terrebonne parish," he said.
Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana
Terrebonne Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Houma. Its population was 111,860...
and Lafourche Parish in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
. The targeted area is bounded on the west by Bayou Du Large and LA 311 (Louisiana State Highway 311) and on the east by Bayou Lafourche
Bayou Lafourche
Bayou Lafourche, originally called Chetimachas River, is a bayou in southeastern Louisiana, United States, that flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The first settlements of Acadians in southern Louisiana were near Bayou Lafourche and Bayou des Écores, which led to a close association of the bayou with...
. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is the federal sponsor for this project, and the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is a state government organization in charge of maintaining public transportation, roadways, bridges, canals, select levees, floodplain management, port facilities, commercial vehicles, and aviation which includes 69 airports, in the U.S....
with the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District jointly serve as the local sponsor. The Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District will provide operations and maintenance once the system is complete.
Description
The project's purpose is to protect development and the remaining fragile marsh from hurricane storm surge. The area is significantly affected by tides emanating from the Gulf of MexicoGulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
. Deterioration of coastal marshes, as a result of saltwater intrusion, land subsidence and the lack of interchanges from the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
have increased surge inundation. Reduce hurricane and flood damages in an environmentally sustainable manner in the Houma
Houma
Houma can refer to:*Houma, Louisiana, city in the United States*Houma, Shanxi, city in China*Houma Tribe, a Native American group*Houma, a proper name*Houma, meaning cape, the name of some capes in Tonga and villages near them such as:...
area. The project will protect over 120,000 people and 1700 square miles (4,403 km²) of saline and fresh marshes, farmlands, heavy and light industry, residential, and other developed areas. Protect development and the remaining fragile marsh from hurricane storm surge.
The hurricane protection system will consist of approximately 72 miles (115.9 km) of earthen levee with 12 floodgate structures proposed for the navigable waterways and a lock structure in the Houma Navigational Canal measuring 200 feet (61 m) wide by 1200 feet (365.8 m) long. The structural features are integrated into the levee alignment to provide flood protection, drainage, and environmental benefits, while allowing navigational passage.
Benefits
Innundation Reduction: This project will provide protection against tidal and hurricane surge up to a Category 3 storm.Water Supply Protection: This project will eliminate over $200,000 in annual water treatment costs.
Environmental Benefits: This project has net positive benefits to the marshes and wetlands in the Terrebonne Basin.
Safe Harbor: Fisherman will no longer have to leave the area in a storm event.
Authority
A Reconnaissance Study for the Morganza, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
to the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
Hurricane Protection Project was authorized by Congress in 1992. Following completion of this report, the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
authorized a Feasibility Study in the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act of 1995 (Public Law 103-316). The Feasibility Study was completed in March 2002 and the Chief of Engineers letter was forwarded to the Secretary of the Army in August 2002 and supplemented in July 2003.
Features
Approximately 72 miles (115.9 km) of earthen levee, nine 56 feet (17.1 m) wide (sector gate) navigable floodgates, three 125 feet (38.1 m) wide (sector gate) navigable floodgates, 12-multi barrel water control structures, and a lock complex consisting of a lock in the Houma Navigation Canal measuring 110 feet (33.5 m) by 800 feet (243.8 m), an adjoining navigable floodgate (sector gate) measuring 200 feet (61 m) wide, and a dam closure. The structural features are integrated into the levee alignment to provide flood protection, drainage, environmental benefits, and navigational passage. Construction of this plan is estimated to cost $788 million (2005 price level) and would be cost shared 65% / 35% with LADOTD, the local sponsor.Costs
(2006 price level)Total project cost: $886,700,000
Total federal cost: $576,355,000
Total non-federal cost: $310,345,000
Schedule
The feasibility report was completed in March 2002. The Chief’s Report was signed on 23 August 2002. Preliminary Engineering and Design (PED) for the Houma Navigation Canal lock is ongoing and scheduled to be completed in December 2007. PED for the additional project features is also ongoing and scheduled to be completed in FY 08.Morganza bill passes Senate by overwhelming vote
A bill containing the authorization for Terrebonne's Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane protection system, a 72 miles (115.9 km) system of levees, floodgates and a lock on the Houma Navigation Canal, passed the U.S. Senate by an overwhelming margin today.The Senate voted 91 to 4 in favor of the Water Resources Development Act, an enormous water projects bill containing the levee system.
Congress has not passed a WRDA bill since 2000, and authorization for the Morganza project has stalled annually with it.
Next WRDA will head to conference committee, where the House and the Senate will iron out any differences between their versions of the bill. Last year, WRDA died in the waning hours of the Senate stuck in conference committee. But Jerome Zeringue, executive director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation Board, said that the May passage of WRDA and a lack of differences between the two bill versions should give committee members ample time fine tune WRDA before sending it on to the President's desk for signature.
WRDA may be passed to the President by the end of summer, said Zeringue.
With such an overwhelming majority of legislators voting for WRDA, Zeringue said he felt a veto by the President was unlikely.
"This is a great day for Terrebonne parish," he said.