New Orleans District Task Force

Hurricane Protection Systems Improvements

This page contains an overview and specific information about improvements that USACE is making to the Southern Louisiana Hurricane Protection System (HPS). Each summary below has links to (High,) for high speed cable connection. (Medium) DSL connection, and (Low resolution) for Telephone connection. (Flash Player version 9 is needed for viewing)

	Overview The Southern Louisiana Hurricane Protection System is comprised of numerous features including levees, floodwalls, floodgates, and pump stations. This video clip provides a flyover view of improvement efforts.

Overview (Low)	Overview (Medium)	Overview (High)

Outfall Canal Closures
& Pump Stations
Three major outfall canals drain water from the center of New Orleans north to Lake Pontchartrain. More than 14 miles of levees and floodwalls border these canals and form part of the region’s Hurricane Protection System. The 17th Street Canal, the Orleans Avenue Canal and the London Avenue Canal proved vulnerable to Hurricane Katrina’s massive storm surge. Adding a structure at the mouth of each canal is key to better protection. These new structures will keep storm surge out and permit existing pump stations to continue operation.

Outfall (Low)	Outfall (Medium)	Outfall (High)

Navigation Canal Floodgates
During hurricanes, surge waters can enter New Orleans’ Industrial Canal (IHNC) area from the east and from Lake Pontchartrain to the north. A currently proposed pair of navigable floodgates would close when hurricanes threaten. By preventing storm surge from entering the Industrial Canal (IHNC), these gates would protect a vital residential and commercial area. The smaller of the two gates, at the Seabrook entrance to Lake Pontchartrain, would permit barge traffic to pass. Although the placement of the second larger navigable floodgate is not precisely determined, it is proposed to be near the intersection of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) where it would tie into the existing levee system.

Floodgates (Low)	Floodgates (Medium)	Floodgates (High)

Selective Armoring
The Corps has proposed armoring the backsides of levees in the areas most exposed to storm surges and the base of floodwalls to protect them from erosion if overtopped. The Corps would also armor some of the transition points between levees,
floodwalls and other structures that had proved vulnerable during Katrina.

Armoring (Low)	Armoring (Medium)	Armoring (High)

Storm Proofing Pump Stations
Dozens of pump stations critical to prevent flooding from rainfall within the flood protection system are scattered throughout the New Orleans metropolitan area. The proposed work will add site-specific enhancements to these pumping stations. The stations will be more reliable during future storms because of improvements that provide back-up power, fuel sources, raised equipment and overall structural hardening.

Pumpstations (Low)	Pumpstations (Medium)	Pumpstations (High)

	Incorporate Non-Federal Levees The proposed plan will heighten, strengthen and incorporate specific non-federal levees in Plaquemines Parish into the federal system to protect and safeguard this vital evacuation route.

Levees (Low)	Levees (Medium)	Levees (High)