Notes for The Wall

So, after a little research, here is what I've found...

www.saveourwetlands.org: "Corps of Engineers Takes Heat on Levees"

• Politicians debate about the flooding of New Orleans to be due to a break in a 500 ft. long piece of a levee, which let the waters of Lake Pontchartrain flow into the city, 20 ft in some places. At the time of the flood, this section was under repair by the Army Corps, and the materials that were being used are now being reviewed for practical quality. Also shady relation between the Army Corps and some politicians.
• The eastern New Orleans back levee was supposed to stop a tidal surge blowing off of a hurricane from the east, but was "...incapable of stopping more than a modest storm surge..."
• Louisiana Congress was pushing for $5 million dollars to start an improvement project.
• Storm serge topped the back levy, which was denied funding by Bush.
• This year Louisiana requested $82.5 million for flood control projects, Bush ok'ed $13.5 million.
• Failed portions of the levee are likely to be results of tight budgets, I-wall design "in which a sheet of steel is driven into the ground, backed by pilings and topped with a line of concrete. The design is sturdier than an earthen levee but less solid than a T-wall design, which has both a vertical and horizontal wall."
• Twall is effective design, but much more expensive - money was saved by using the I-wall design.
• (Save the wetlandsnorganization has also been discouraging structures in the wetlands, as the organization is motivated towards nature conservancy - blogsite)

http://www.neelco.com/:

• The T-Wall Retaining Wall System Construction Manual (The Neel Company, 8328 Traford Lane, Springfield, VA, 22152)

http://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/pd/projectsList/home.asp?projectID=86&directoryFilePath=ProjectData\

• US Army Corps of Engineers website: Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project
• Late 1990's proposal for improvements to flood protection system: "The project includes channel and pump station improvements in the three parishes. The channel and pumping station improvements in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes support the parishes’ master drainage plans and generally provide flood protection on a level associated with a ten-year rainfall event, while also reducing damages for larger events. St. Tammany Parish plans would provide flood protection for various rainfall events. In Orleans Parish, approved plans involve improving five major drainage lines, adding pumping capacity to two pump stations, and adding a new pump station. Proposed plans include improving 13 canals, adding pump capacity to two existing pump stations, and adding two new pump stations."
• This proposal is aimed at mostly controlling rainfall-related flooding, not hurrican associated surges.
• "In Orleans Parish, nine contracts have been awarded, seven are complete, two are underway, and one remains to be awarded. Most of the remaining contracts had been scheduled for award in fiscal year 2003; however, funding limitations have prevented moving forward with those contracts. Overall, the currently scheduled work in Orleans and Jefferson Parishes is about 70 percent complete and should be finished in 2008, if funding can keep pace."

To conclude:

• T-Wall design would hold up against this sort of storm surge.