East Jefferson Levee District Status Report
May 2008
East Jefferson Levee District LPV 27 26
The hurricane protection levee system is divided into five Reaches along Lake Pontchartrain, plus the East Return Levee on the 17 th Street Canal and the West Return Levee on the St. Charles Parish Line. (Map of the East Jefferson Levee District is attached.)
LPV 27 26 WRL
Description:
The West Return Levee is located along the St. Charles Parish Line in Kenner and is comprised of floodwalls, earthen levees and floodgates. The earthen levees in this section are at the south end of the section surrounding the airport runway. This section was elevated in the spring of 2005 by the Louis Armstrong International Airport, to the pre-Katrina design elevation of 12’ plus 2’ of overbuild, or a total of 14’, to account for subsidence. The sheetpile I-wall at the corner of the West Return levee wall and the airport runway extension that ties in to the earthen levee section were replaced with deeper, stronger 60’ sheeting. The earthen berms along these sheetpile I-walls were enlarged and reinforced with concrete slope paving to provide additional stability and improve scour protection.
Construction:
The East Jefferson Levee District assisted the Corps’ Memphis hired labor crew with modifications made to the earthen berms at the south end of the West Return levee to provide additional stability and improve drainage. A 1,500’ section of I-wall along the West Return levee at Vintage, which was sinking and leaning, was reinforced with 60’ sheetpile, which was strengthened further with an enlarged berm and concrete slope paving to prevent scour. Phase 2 100-year protection of the earthen levees surrounding the airport runway and the entire West Return levee floodwall is scheduled for a 2 nd Quarter 2009 award and completion is scheduled for early 2011. The Corps has hired a contractor to analyze the various possible alternatives to bring the West Return floodwall to the 100-year authorized level of protection. The final analysis has been received and is under review by the Corps, the DOTD, the levee district and the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority – East.
Inspection:
West Return Levee is showing some spalling and surface cracking which is being addressed. The Corps, the DOTD and the levee district have been testing & monitoring joint seepage between wall panels.
Issues: None
LPV 27 26 R1
Description:
Reach 1 levee is located between the Duncan Canal in Kenner and the St. Charles Parish Line and is comprised of floodwalls, earthen levees and floodgates. The earthen levees in this section were elevated in Phase 1 to the pre-Katrina authorized design elevation of 16’ plus 1’ of overbuild, to a total of 17’, to account for subsidence. The Re-curve I-wall at the St. Charles Parish line and the I-walls that tie the Duncan Canal Pump Station into the earthen levees were improved with interim protection. The earthen berms along these I-walls were enlarged and reinforced with concrete slope paving to provide additional stability and to improve scour protection.
Construction:
The award for a contract to construct the breakwater designed to protect the Duncan Canal Pump Station is scheduled for a 1 st Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in late 2009. The awards for the construction of the Duncan Canal Pump Station frontal protection and for the replacement of the I-wall tie-ins are currently scheduled for a 1 st Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in early 2011. Phase 2 100-year protection is scheduled for a 2nd Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in late 2010.
Inspection:
The recent Reach 1 levee lift has not been accepted from the Corps by the EJLD due to severe rutting. Riprap is needed along the shoreline.
Issues:
The Corps has hired a contractor to improve grass growth and surface issues. With the exception of a 1500’ stretch, there is excellent grass growth. Our maintenance department will be cutting the grass soon and a final inspection will be scheduled in the near future.
LPV 27 26 R2
Description:
Reach 2 levee is located between the Elmwood Canal in Metairie and the Duncan Canal in Kenner and is comprised of floodwalls, earthen levees and floodgates. The earthen levees are about 2’ low. The earthen sections that are deficient in height have been elevated 3’ using HESCO baskets filled with sand. Older sheetpile I-walls were replaced with deeper, stronger 60’ sheeting on the west side of the Elmwood Canal. The I-walls at the Williams Blvd. roadway floodgates and the I-walls that tie in the Duncan and Elmwood Canal Pump Stations to the earthen levees were improved with interim protection. The earthen berms along these I-walls were enlarged and reinforced with concrete slope paving to provide additional stability and to improve scour protection.
Construction:
The Phase 1 plans and specifications to raise Reach 2 to an elevation of 18’, 16.5’ design plus 1.5’ overbuild, with 10’ crowns are being revised to satisfy the new stability requirements. The Corps’ Geotech division is still working on the analysis of this Reach. It appears at this time that the bike path will not be impacted. Contracts for the Elmwood Canal pump station frontal protection and for the replacement of the I-wall tie-ins are currently scheduled for an early 2009 award with a projected completion date in early 2011. Phase 2 100-year protection is scheduled for a 1st Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in early 2010.
Inspection:
Surface cracks and spalling are being addressed during normal maintenance operations. L-4 floodgate has a track that is showing some settlement. Riprap is needed along the shoreline.
Issues: None
LPV 27 26 R3
Description:
Reach 3 levee is located between the Elmwood Canal in Metairie and the Suburban Canal in Metairie and is comprised of floodwalls and earthen levees. The earthen levees in this section were elevated during Phase 1 to the pre-Katrina authorized design elevation of 16’ plus 1’ of overbuild, to a total of 17’, to account for subsidence. Older sheetpile I-walls were replaced with deeper, stronger 60’ sheeting on the east side of the Elmwood Canal and the west side of the Suburban Canal. The I-walls that tie in the Elmwood and Suburban Canal Pump Stations to the earthen levees were improved with interim protection. The earthen berms along these I-walls were enlarged and reinforced with concrete slope paving to provide additional stability and to improve scour protection.
Construction:
A construction contract for the Suburban Canal Pump Station frontal protection and for the replacement of the I-wall tie-ins is currently scheduled for an early 2009 award with a projected completion date in early 2011. Phase 2 100-year protection is scheduled for a 2nd Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in early 2011.
Inspection:
The recent Reach 3 levee lift has not been accepted from the Corps by the EJLD due to severe rutting. Riprap is needed along the shoreline.
Issues :
The Corps contractor working to improve the grass growth and surface issues is only about 20% complete. The levee district’s operations superintendent, Danny Abadie, is closely monitoring the work and he is communicating with the Corps when he has concerns.
LPV 27 26 R4
Description:
Reach 4 levee is located between the Suburban Canal in Metairie and Causeway Blvd. in Metairie and is comprised of floodwalls and earthen levees. The earthen levees in this section were elevated in Phase 1 to the design elevation of 16’ plus 1’ of overbuild, to a total of 17’, to account for subsidence. Older sheetpile I-walls were replaced with deeper, stronger 60’ sheeting on the east side of the Suburban Canal. The I-walls that tie in the Causeway bridge structure and the Suburban Canal Pump Station to the earthen levees were improved with interim protection. The earthen berms along these I-walls were enlarged and reinforced with concrete slope paving to provide additional stability and to improve scour protection.
Construction:
Phase 2 100-year protection is scheduled for a 2nd Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in the 3 rd quarter of 2010.
Inspection: Some spalling and cracking by the Causeway crib wall. Riprap is needed along the shoreline.
Issues: None
LPV 27 26 R5
Description:
Reach 5 levee is located between Causeway Blvd. in Metairie and the 17th St. Canal to the Orleans Parish Line and comprised of floodwalls, earthen levees and floodgates. The earthen levees are about 2’ low. To provide interim protection until the permanent levee project can be constructed, the earthen sections were elevated 3’ using HESCO baskets filled with sand. A construction contract for the permanent lift should be awarded in the 3 rd Quarter of 2008. The I-walls at the Bonnabel Blvd. roadway gates and the I-walls that tie in the Bonnabel Canal Pump Station to the earthen levees have been improved with interim protection. The earthen berms along these I-walls have been enlarged and reinforced with concrete slope paving to provide additional stability and to improve scour protection.
Construction:
The Phase 1 and 2 plans and specifications are being developed to raise Reach 5 to an elevation of 18’, 16.5’ design plus 1.5’ overbuild, with 10’ crowns. It is anticipated this lift will bring this levee section to 100 year protection and satisfy the new design criteria. The bike paths on this section will be impacted. The EJLD has requested that the Corps replace the bike path because it serves as an all weather access road. The awards for the construction of the Bonnabel Canal Pump Station frontal protection and for the replacement of the I-wall tie-ins are currently scheduled for a 1 st Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in mid 2011. A contract to construct the breakwater designed to protect the Bonnabel Canal Pump Station is scheduled for a 1 st Quarter 2009 award with a projected completion date in early 2010.
Inspection:
Riprap is needed along the shoreline.
Issues: None
LPV 27 26 ERL
Description:
The East Return Levee is located between the Hammond Highway Bridge and Pump Station 6 along the 17 th St. Canal and is comprised of floodwalls, earthen levees and floodgates. Post-Katrina interim closure gates and temporary pumps were constructed at the lakefront outfall of the 17 th Street Canal to eliminate the risk from lake waters filling the canal and causing failure of the canal walls as happened during Katrina. With the gates closed and safe water elevations maintained in the canal, the walls would not play a role in hurricane protection. This interim protection will remain in place until a permanent structure can be installed.
Construction:
The project to construct a permanent pump station at the outfall of the canal is scheduled to be completed by 2011.
Inspection:
Erosion along the canal bank is being monitored.
Issues: None
LPV 27 26 MRL
Description:
The Mississippi River Levee islocated between the Orleans Parish Line and the St. Charles Parish line and is comprised of earthen levees only. The levees are constructed between an elevation of 24.5’ and 26.5’.
Construction: Mississippi River Levee lift construction contract is scheduled for a late 2008 award. The bike paths will be replaced because they serve as an access road for routine inspections and emergency responses.
Inspection: Good
Issues: We continue to be in a Phase II high water alert. Our Police and Maintenance departments continue to patrol and monitor the Mississippi River 24/7 and will continue to do so until the river subsides to 11’.
LPV 27 26 Special Issues
100-year Protection
Post-Katrina work has been designed to repair damage caused by Katrina and to bring the levees to the pre-Katrina authorized levels of protection. The Corps is now designing the currently authorized 100-year protection. This Phase 2 work may change the authorized elevations, and it may also require increased stability. All I-walls, including gates that are too low in the system, will be replaced and built to the100-year design elevations at that time. The entire project is scheduled for completion by 2011. The 10-mile lake shoreline of the East Jefferson Levee District is being evaluated for enhanced erosion protection with the new 100-year designs.
Shoreline Protection
The East Jefferson Levee District is currently working with LSU, Parish, State and Federal officials to obtain authorization and funding for shoreline protection for the entire ten (10) miles of the Jefferson Parish lakefront. Concept plans designed by LSU Landscape Architecture students are being used as possible alternatives envisioned for shoreline protection that could incorporate recreational and wetlands mitigation.