Book Description

The active delta of the Mississippi river is located in the southern-most portion of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Since 1963, the New Orleans District has maintained, by dredging, a 40-foot deep navigational channel through this active delta to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. In recent years, shoaling and associated dredging have increased within the active-delta reach of the navigational channel. This shoaling increase has been a result of continuing deterioration of the river banks within the delta, as a result of subsidence and erosion. Projections indicate that, in approximately 26 years, shoaling would increase to a point where the 40-foot channel depth could not be maintained. The recommended features would provide for restoration and maintenance of the river bank. This would result in a reduction of shoaling to 12.7 million cubic yards which would be 7.3 million cubic yards less than what presently occurs. Shoal material, not needed for construction or maintenance of the recommended project features, would be disposed into adjacent estuarine water bodies. A minimum of 9,000 acres of marsh would develop from this unconfined disposal and, as a result, the recommended project would not require fish and wildlife mitigation.