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"Working with the Mississippi River for Sustainable Storm Protection" presented at the 2014 ASCE International Conference on Sustainable Infrastructure in Long Beach, CA, by Russ Joffrion, PE of CPRA, Principal Engineer David Eley, PE of GeoEngineers and Principal Geotechnical Engineer Blake E. Cotton, PE of GeoEngineers . Abstract: The Louisiana coast is losing land at an alarming rate. This land loss has resulted in greater damage to infrastructure near the coast, as land and marsh that historically buffered this infrastructure disappears. Infrastructure in Louisiana is critical to the United States for shipping along the Mississippi River, and for oil and gas production and import/export. Land loss in Louisiana is the result of years of well-intentioned, but unsustainable, practices. Louisiana is in the initial stages of a 50-year plan (Louisiana’s Comprehensive Master Plan for a Sustainable Coast, 2012) to build resilient infrastructure that will work with the natural delta and coastal processes to provide long-term, sustainable coastal protection for the State. Given the projected annualized cost of doing nothing, Louisiana can’t afford not to implement the Plan.
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Working with the Mississippi River for Sustainable Storm Protection
Russ J. Joffrion, PE, CPRADavid S. Eley, PE, GeoEngineers, Inc.
Blake E. Cotton, PE, GeoEngineers, Inc.
Today’s Discussion
• The problem• Coastal Master Plan development• What the plan delivers• Projects = progress
Louisiana’s Geologic History
Predicted Land Change Over Next 50 Years
Potential to lose an additional 770 – 1,750 square miles of land over the next 50 years
Louisiana is Experiencing a Coastal CrisisPredicted Land Change Over Next 50 Years
Our Communities and Livelihoods at RiskPredicted Future Flooding from a 100 Year Flood EventFuture Without Action
Potential for damages to reach $7.7 to $23.4 billion annually
Increasing threats to lives, jobs, communities and the economy
Why Should You Care?Predicted Future Flooding from a 100 Year Flood EventFuture Without Action• About 40% total coastal marsh in lower 48
states in Louisiana• Louisiana infrastructure services
– 90% of deep water rigs in Gulf– 20% of annual waterborne commerce– 26% (by weight) of continental US commercial
fisheries landings
• Winter habitat for 5 million migratory waterfowl
We Need A New PlanEvaluation of Hundreds of Existing Projects
Nonstructural Measures
Nearly 400 Projects Evaluated Across the Coast
Framework Development Team
Over 30 Federal, State, NGO, Academic, Community, and Industry Organizations
• Key industries are impacted by land loss and large scale protection and restoration efforts
• Created three focus groups:– Navigation– Fisheries– Oil and Gas
Focus Groups
Using New Tools, Breaking New Ground
Five Plan ObjectivesPredicted Future Flooding from a 100 Year Flood EventFuture Without Action1. Flood Protection - Reduce economic losses from
storm-based flooding. 2. Natural Processes - Promote a sustainable ecosystem
by harnessing the processes of the natural system. 3. Coastal Habitats - Provide habitats suitable to support
an array of commercial and recreational activities coast wide.
4. Cultural Heritage - Sustain Louisiana’s unique heritage and culture.
5. Working Coast - Support regionally and nationally important businesses and industries.
Decision Drivers
• Flood Risk Reduction and Land Built/Maintained as Decision Drivers
Risk Reduction
Expected Annual Damages Land Area
Restoration
Land Area
Risk Reduction
Expected Annual Damages
Decision Criteria and Ecosystem Services
Distribution of flood risk across socioeconomic groups
Flood protection of historic properties
Flood protection of strategic assets
Operation and maintenance costs
Sustainability
Support for navigation
Use of natural processes
Support for cultural heritage
Support for oil & gas
Oyster
Shrimp
Freshwater Availability
Alligator
Waterfowl
Saltwater Fisheries
Freshwater Fisheries
Carbon Sequestration
Nitrogen Removal
Agriculture/Aquaculture
Other Coastal Wildlife
Nature-Based Tourism
Restoration
Grounded in Science…
What the Master Plan Delivers
What the Master Plan Delivers
2012 Coastal Master Plan
A Closer Look: Southeast CoastFINAL PLAN
What the Master Plan Delivers
• The plan improves flood protection for every community in coastal Louisiana, at a minimum through nonstructural programs.
• Levees that significantly reduce or eliminate risk from a 100 year storm are provided for communities such as Abbeville, New Iberia, Morgan City, Houma, Golden Meadow, and Lafitte.
• The plan includes the nation’s largest investment, over $20 billion, in sediment mining and marsh creation projects that will provide land building benefitsfor areas in dire need.
What the Master Plan Delivers
• By increasing flood protection and building or sustaining land, the plan supports coastal industries, their infrastructure, and the workforce.
• The ecosystem sustainability provided by the plan will support robust commercial and recreational fisheries coast wide, along with other ecosystem services that benefit our communities.
• The plan provides tremendous economic development opportunities for Louisiana and its citizens.
Investing in Marsh Creation & Land Building
Keystone of the 2012 Master Plan: Reconnecting the River
Responding to the CrisisLouisiana’s Coastal Program:
Past and Present
This map shows projects that have been constructed and projects that are funded for construction
We Continue to Make Progress
Sustainable Land Bridge Projects
13.3
20.1
24.3
BA-39 (II)(Built)
BA-41(Awarded?)
LDSP Project
The Pen
LafitteBa
you
Pero
t
Bayo
u Ri
gole
ts
Little Lake
Lake Salvador
Barataria Waterw
ay
Turtle Bay
Naomi
Myrtle Grove
Bayou Dupont
BA-39 (III)EPA
R2-BA-15NRCS PPL 20
BA-23(Built)
BA-26(Built)
BARATARIA LANDBRIDGE
BA-27(Built)
BA-36(Built)
BA-39 (Built)
BA-48
Mid-Barataria Diversion Project
Long Distance Sediment Pipeline/Bayou Dupont Marsh Creation Project
Project Location and Infrastructure
NOV Hurricane Protection Levee
New Orleans Railroad
Naomi Siphons 2000 cfs
LA 23
Mississippi River Levee
30” Cutter Head Dredge
New Orleans Railroad Crossing
Lake Hermitage Marsh Creation Project
Scofield Island and Shell Island Restoration Projects
Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion
COMMITTED TO OUR COAST
