A major development for the people of Louisiana is the opening of a downtown Baton Rouge levee along the Mississippi River. Matters have reached a critical stage in the state of "Union, Justice, and Confidence," with water levels along the Mississippi above the flood stage in Baton Rouge and nearing flood levels in New Orleans.
Remembering 2005 and what Hurricane Katrina did to the levee system surrounding "The Big Easy," news of more flooding in New Orleans is tragic, if not catastrophic. Lake Ponchartrain had become overwhelmed by the water levels caused by Katrina. This will always be a great concern to the US Army Corps of Engineers and its levee system, which surrounds the city that lies below sea level.
The Bonnet Carre Spillway and its 330 bays exist to divert flooding, and as the mighty Mississippi's flooding has threatened Louisiana and its Lake Ponchartrain, spillway bays have been opened. The great news following the reopening of the downtown Baton Rouge levee is that the Army Corps of Engineers plans to close 30 of the bays, hopeful of subsiding water levels. No better news than this wave of good news can reach the news wires in Louisiana right now.
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Comments: 1
Katrina was only incidental to the flooding of New Orleans in 2005. The levees failed because they were designed to an inadequate specification and then constructed to a standard which did not even meet that specification. This fact is borne out in two independent reports, one funded by the state of Louisiana (Team Louisiana) and one by the National Science Foundation (ILIT). The city was flooded because the levees and floodwalls were badly built, pure and simple.
Second, the city of New Orleans is not entirely below sea level. Only 49 percent of the city is actually below sea level. The rest is at or above sea level.
This is, of course, immaterial to why the city flooded, but it should be pointed out that there are few, if any, deltaic port cities where are not at or below sea level. It's a simple fact of nature: that's where you want to build a port.
For an eye opening look at why New Orleans flooded and why it, as well as over a hundred other cities around the nation may be at risk as well, I suggest checking out "The Big Uneasy" (www.thebiguneasy.com), a documentary film directed by Harry Shearer (yes, that Harry Shearer, but don't expect any Simpsons voices or Spinal Tap mugging -- this is a deadly serious film).
Disclosure: I have met Mr Shearer and have had the pleasure of having a long conversation over coffee with him but do not work for him or his production company and have no financial interest in his film. I also don't particularly even like New Orleans.