The Flood Control Act of 23 October 1962, House Document 550, 87th Congress, 2nd Session, authorized improvement of existing back levee systems by increasing their height and construction of new levees for the prevention of hurricane flood damage.

PROJECT:

The project consists of the following:

* - Reach A - City Price to Tropical Bend, 13 miles
* - Reach Bl - Tropical Bend to Fort Jackson, 12 miles
* - Reach B2 - Fort Jackson to Venice, 9 miles
* - Reach C - Phoenix to Bohemia, 16 miles
* - West Bank River Levee - Enlargement of the west bank of the Mississippi river levees from mile 44 to mile 10 Above Head of Passes. (This section of the project represents a modification approved by OCE in 1970)
* - City Price to St. Jude - Non-Federal levee was added to the project as a post-authorization change. No Federal Cost involved, 3.3 miles.

PROJECT:

The project will provide protection from hurricane tidal overflow by increasing the heights of the existing back levees and the West Bank Mississippi River Levees and modifying the existing drainage facilities, where necessary.

COOPERATION:

Assurances of local cooperation for Reaches A, B-1, B-2, and C, requested on 7 January 1963, were furnished by the Plaquemines Parish commission council on 6 March 1964. Required supporting papers were furnished on 16 March 1965 and accepted. Supplemental assurances covering the requirements of PL 91-646 were received from Plaquemines Parish Commission Council on 23 May 1973 and accepted on 20 June 1973. Supplement assurances for the West Bank River Levee were furnished on 29 December 1987 and accepted on 28 Jan 88. Supplemental assurances for the St. Jude to City Price reach were accepted on 18 February 1993.

PROGRESS:

The project is approximately 73% physically complete, and the estimated completion date is September 2013. A breakdown of conbtruction status is:

1. Reach A - 61% complete, September 2006
2. Reach Bl - 86% complete, March 2003
3. Reach B2 - 99% complete, May 2002
4 Reach C - 90% complete, February 2002
5. West Bank River Levee - 60% complete, September 2013
6. St. Jude to City Price - 60% completed December 2001

COST:

Total estimated project cost, fully funded, is $241,505,000. Total estimated non-Federal cost is $72,505,000. The benefit-cost ratio is 3.4 to 1 at 2-7/8 percent interest rate.