Public Law 99-662, the Water Resources Development Act of 1986, authorized the project, with the Lake Cataouatche portion added by the Water Resources Development Act of 1996.  (Public Law 104-303)

The project will provide protection to the area between the City of Westwego and the Harvey Canal within Jefferson Parish, Louisiana on the west bank of the Mississippi River. The plan of protection consists of about 22 miles of new and enlarged levees and floodwalls designed to protect against floodwaters resulting from the standard project hurricane (SPH). The SPH has a frequency of recurrence of about 500 years. The elevation of the SPH floodwalls and levees varies from 9 feet NGVD to 17 feet NGVD. The project plan includes mitigation which consists of the construction of a timber pile and tire breakwater on the west bank of Lake Cataouatche adjacent to the Salvador Wildlife Management Area and the acquisition and management of 1024 acres of wooded wetlands.  The lake Cataouatche area eliminates a westside closure, and adds about 10 miles of levee and 2 miles of floodwalls to the project.

The Local Cooperation Agreement between the Department of the Army and the West Jefferson Levee District was signed on 18 December 1990. The project is cost shared 65% Federal, 35% non-Federal.

Project construction began in February 1991. Construction has been completed on the Lake Cataouatche Mitigation Breakwater and the LA Hwy 45 Single Lift Levee, East of Vertex 1st Lift Levee (non-Federal contract) and the Company Canal Floodwall.  Estelle to LP&L Powerline levee 1st lift, V-Levee Floodwall and Hwy 45 Levee Gap Closures and Old to New Westwego P.S. Floodwall.  Construction is underway on the following features:  (1) New Wastwego P.S. to Orleans Village 1st lift and (2) Orleans Village to Hwy 45 1st lift.  The following construction contracts are scheduled for award in FY 1998:  (1) Westwego Airport (2) Estelle Levee 1st lift repairs (3) LA Hwy 3134 (Non-fed) and (4) Estelle PS-LP&L FW.  The project is 49% complete.  Completion is scheduled for 2007.

$95,200,000 ($61,900,000 Federal and $33,300,000 non-Federal).