Elected officials and stakeholders from Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany, and Tangipahoa Parishes, at a meeting of the New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (RPC), have approved a resolution to request advancement of the Lake Pontchartrain Barrier project, which could provide substantial flood damage reduction for Southeast Louisiana.
The resolution, which was authored by St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper who serves as chairman of the RPC, requests authorization and funding from the United States Congress directing the United States Army Corps of Engineers to evaluate the Lake Pontchartrain Barrier project.
The resolution was unanimously passed.
The Lake Pontchartrain Barrier project could provide remarkable damage reduction benefits for the region, with median expected annual damage reduction benefits ranging from $1.2 – $1.4 billion. The proposed barrier could provide broad flood protection for all Lake Pontchartrain coastal communities, especially those areas lacking existing structural protection.
More than 50 years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers initially proposed a lock system that would limit storm surge from entering Lake Pontchartrain, but the plan was not pursued due to local opposition.
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) selected the Lake Pontchartrain Barrier project for implementation as part of the 2017 Coastal Master Plan.
The proposed project would include 5,200’ of levees, 630’ of floodwalls built on pilings, a 150’ closure gate and multiple lift gates at each pass to control tidal flow.
The New Orleans Regional Planning Commission represents the Greater New Orleans area on matters of regional importance, including transportation, economic development and the environment.
