The authorized Morganza to the Gulf (MTG) project is a hurricane and storm damage risk reduction (HSDRR) project involving a 98-mile alignment of earthen levees, floodgates, environmental water control structures, road/railroad gates, and fronting protection for existing pump stations. This system is being designed to reduce the risk of damage related to flooding for the 1% Annual Exceedance Probability (AEP) in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes where a deterioration of coastal march has led to an increased risk of inundation.
This system will reduce the risk of damage related to flooding to approximately 52,000 structures and a population of 200,000 in an area of intense concentration of energy infrastructure near the confluence of two nationally significant navigation corridors in the Mississippi River and the Gulf Intracoastal WaterWay (GIWW). A major project feature is a lock complex on the Houma Navigation Canal (HNC) consisting of a lock and an adjacent sector gate.

-A major project feature is a lock complex on the Houma Navigation Canal (HNC) consisting of a lock and anadjacent sector gate. The project’s structural features are integrated into the levee alignment in a way that would provide flood protection, drainage, environmental benefits, and navigational passage. The plan includes mitigation efforts for direct environmental impacts 

MTG consists of:

•approximately 98-miles of earthen levee,

•22 floodgates on navigable waterways,

•23 environmental water control structures

•a lock complex consisting of a lock in the Houma Navigation Canal measuring 110-ft wide by 800-ft long, an adjoining floodgate measuring 250 feet wide, and a dam closure.

The project was authorized for construction in WRDA 2007, based on 2002 and 2003 reports of the Chief of Engineers, prior to development and implementation of post-Katrina design criteria. Incorporating post-Katrina design criteria into the Morganza project had driven project costs more than 20% higher than the cost authorized in WRDA 2007, thereby exceeding the Section 902 Limit and triggering the need for reauthorization. As a result, a PAC Report was completed, and a Chief of Engineers’ Report was signed on 8 July 2013 to seek reauthorization of the project. The project was reauthorized in Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014 to provide 100-year level of risk reduction. Since re-authorization, the project team has progressed the design implementing site adaptive criteria and work that has been completed on the alignment that updated the cost to $6.5B ($10.2B fully funded through the life of the project) as documented in the EDR approved on 15 December 2021. A Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) was signed on 28 December 2021 that limits the federal cost share to $3.2B ($4.9B fully funded). 

MTG received New Start construction funding in Fiscal Year 2021 and is currently completing a site preparation and preload contract for future replacement of Humble Canal Floodgate. In addition $378M was received for design and construction of Reach A (portion), Lockport to Larose Reach (portion), Minors Canal Floodgate, GIWW West Floodgate, GIWW East Floodgate, Minors Canal Floodgate and Humble Canal Floodgate. Community Funds received in Fiscal Year 2022 and 2023 will be used for designs for levee lifts and associated construction for Reach F, Reach J-2, Reach L, Reach K, Shell Canal Floodgate and Bayou Terrebonne Floodgate. 

Water Resources Reform and Development Act of 2014

Fact Sheet (Sept. 2025)

Available here

July 2024

Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction Project

Public Meeting July 19, 2023

Final Programmatic EIS 

Public Notice Aug. 12, 2021

Draft FONSI EA 583 FINAL

Draft EA 583 Humble Canal Preload FINAL

Appendix A Figures and Maps

Appendix B Tables

Appendix C Project Information Sheet for Wetland Value

Appendix D Coordination Letters

Appendix E - Humble Canal 404(b)(1) Short Form Evaluation

Appendix F Acronyms

Appendix G BMP for MMA and ESA

Industry Day Photos

Project Area Map

Mitigation Area 1

Mitigation Area 2

Mitigation Area 3

PAC Report May 2013   

EDR Dec. 2021 Main Report