Zach Cook – Regional CI PM

Daniel Sumerall – Regional MRL PM

Ryan Neuman – MVN Senior PM

2024 MVD Industry Day

21 February 2024

MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES

Miss River Navigation

Miss River Dredging

Atchafalaya Basin

CI Revetment – Flood Risk 

Management

Miss River Levees – Flood 

Risk Management
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Great Flood of 1927

• 27,000 Square Miles Inundated

• 700,000 People Impacted

• 500 Deaths

• Economic Damages = $1 Billion

Flood Control Act of 1928 & Subsequent Acts

Signed on May 15, 1928

(13 Months After the First Levee Breach)

Comprehensive Navigation & Flood Control Project

• Levees and Floodwalls

• Floodways and Backwater Areas

• Channel Improvement and Stabilization Features

• Tributary Basin Improvements (Subsequent Acts)

$21 Billion Federal Invested : 

$2.7 Trillion Flood Damages Prevented 

Benefit to Cost = $134 : $1 

Mississippi River and Tributaries Project
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 $20.5B invested for planning, construction, O&M since 1928.

 $2.7T flood damages prevented since 1928.

 $222.4B flood damages prevented in 2022.

 4.1 million people protected.

 134 to 1 return on each dollar invested.

 10.5 to 1 Benefit-to-Cost Ratio @ 7% OMB rate. (FRM Benefits Only)

 659M tons of cargo moved on the MS River system each year.

 $12.5B in transportation savings.

 MR&T Mainstem System Construction is Currently ~84% - complete. 

MR&T VALUE TO THE NATION
4

MISSISSIPPI RIVER CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT

Dike Construction

Dredging

Clearing and Snagging (C&S)

Bank Grading Unit (BGU) Mat Sinking Unit (MSU)
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MISSISSIPPI RIVER – EFFICIENT WATERWAY

Memphis 2011 - Flood Memphis 2012 - Drought Memphis Gage

Event Stage

2011 Flood 48.03

2012 Drought -9.79*

Elevation Difference 57.82 ft

*New Record Low Set at Memphis Gage 

17 October 2023* 

2011 Flood 48.03 ft

2023 Drought -12.04 ft

Elevation difference 60.07 ft
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CHANNEL IMPROVEMENT –

INFRASTRUCTURE ON THE LOWER MS

• 3 USACE Districts encompassing 

portions of 7 states

• Confluence of the Ohio & Mississippi 

River to Head of Passes (approx. 

1,000 river miles)

• “Channel Improvement” 

Infrastructure provides Navigation, 

Flood Risk Management, and 

fosters Environmental Protection & 

Enhancements

• Infrastructure:

• Dike Length: 341 miles

• Revetment: 1058 miles
9 LMR LOW WATER DREDGING

Mississippi River - USACE Owned Dredge Hurley, Dredge Jadwin, Dredge 

Potter, Contract Dredge Wallace McGeorge

2022-2023 Statistics

- Dredged at 43 crossings from Cairo Illinois to Baton 

Rouge - Dredged more than 35 MCYDS of material last two 

years
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RIVER ENGINEERING TOOLS
11 MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVEES 11

The Mainline Mississippi River 

Levee System (MRL) extends 

from Cape Girardeau, MO to 

Head of Passes, LA and is 

approximately 1,610 miles in 

length.

The MRL lies within the 

Memphis, Vicksburg, and New 

Orleans Districts. 

Construction of the MRL is 

approximately 85% complete. 
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LEVEE ENLARGEMENT

Levee enlargements are conducted in locations where the 

existing levee is not at the authorized grade. Depending on 

the location of the project, these raises may occur on the 

landside, riverside, or straddle the existing levee section.
14 14 FLOODWALL DEFICIENCIES

Urban areas typically require floodwalls rather 

than levees to reduce impacts to residences and 

businesses. These floodwalls can have stability 

concerns or height deficiencies that must be 

addressed.

Land Side

Existing 

Levee

Levee Toe

Water Side

Authorized Grade

H-Pile

Sheet 

Pile H-Pile

Top of New T-Wall
15 15 SEEPAGE BERMS

Seepage berms are constructed on the 

landside of the levee using impervious soils to 

reinforce existing top stratum and to reduce 

underseepage pressure near the toe of the 

levee. Upon construction, berms are turfed and 

mowed to prevent erosion or encroachment of 

undesired vegetation.
16 RELIEF WELLS

Relief wells are vertically installed wells consisting of 

a well screen surrounded by a filter material 

designed to prevent in-wash of foundation materials 

into the well. Relief wells intercept underseepage 

and provide a controlled outlet for the water while 

minimizing material transport underneath the levee.
17 SLOPE FLATTENING

Areas with recurring levee slides require 

measures beyond ordinary operations and 

maintenance repairs. In these locations, the 

slopes of the levee will be flattened to reduce the 

chances of slide recurrence. 
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NEW ORLEANS DISTRICT OVERVIEW AGENDA 

Mississippi Rivers & Tributaries

 Atchafalaya Basin 

• Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2022 (DRSAA)

• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) / Bipartisan 

Infrastructure Law (BIL)

 Mississippi River Levee

• Annual Program

• BBA18 Long Term Supplemental Phase II (BBA18 LTS)

• Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act 2022 (DRSAA)

 Morganza to the Gulf

• Annual Program

• Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act(IIJA) / Bipartisan 

Infrastructure Law (BIL)

Questions
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Project Description/Scope:

 DRSAA, IIJA, & BIL authorized funding for design and 

construction to address flood risk management concerns:

• Alabama Bayou Levee Lift

• Bayou La Rose Levee Lift

• E73.3 – E74 Levee Lift

• W99 Levee Lift

• W121 Levee Lift

• W124B Levee Lift

• Bayou Sale – East West Tie In 

 Proposed work includes levee lifts and floodwalls

 Solicitations between ~Q1 FY26 through ~Q4 FY28

 Award range $500k - $20M

ATCHAFALAYA BASIN

Project Overview
21 ATCHAFALAYA BASIN 

PROJECT DELIVERY SCHEDULE

Project Name Project Location Type of Work Solicitation*

Alabama Bayou Levee Reach Krotz Springs, LA

Pointe Coupee Parish Levee Lift Q1 2026

Bayou La Rose Levee Reach East of Henderson, LA

St Martin Parish Levee Lift Q1 2026

E73.3 through E74 Levee 

Reaches

Belle River, LA

St Martin Parish Levee Lift Q1 2027

W99 Levee Reach Franklin, LA

St Mary Parish Levee Lift Q4 2028

W121 Levee Reach Berwick, LA

St Mary Parish Levee Lift Q2 2026

W124B Levee Reach Berwick, LA

St Mary Parish Levee Lift Q1 2025

Bayou Sale – East West Tie In 

Reach

Bayou Sale, LA

St Mary Parish Levee Lift/Floodwall Q1 2025

*NOTE: Solicitation dates are based on Fiscal Year Calendar, and are subject to change as designs are refined
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Project Description/Scope:

 Annual Program, BBA18LTS, & DRSAA authorized funding for design and construction to address flood risk management 

concerns:

• Dugas to Celotex

• Avondale Levee and Floodwall

• Harvey Lock Forebay - Levee

• IHNC Lock Forebay - Levee

• Port Allen Levee Enlargement/ Floodwall

• Thomas Point/Smithfield Levee Enlargement

• Plaquemines/ Reveille Levee Enlargement

• Bayou Goula to Alhambra Levee Enlargement

• Marchand/Carville/Ben Hur Rd Levee Enlargement

• Smoke Bend Levee Enlargement

• Welham Plantation Levee Enlargement

• Belmont/ Romeville-College Point/ Romeville 

 Levee Enlargement

• Waggaman Levee Enlargement/ Floodwall

 Proposed work includes levee enlargements, floodwalls, and seepage remediation 

 Solicitations between ~Q3 FY24 through ~Q1 FY26

 Award range >$1M - <$25M

MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVEE (MRL)

Project Overview
23 MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVEE (MRL)

PROJECT DELIVERY SCHEDULE

Project Name Project Location Type of Work Solicitation*

Dugas to Celotex Jefferson Parish, LA Seepage Remediation/ Sheetpile Cutoff Q2 2024

Avondale Levee and Floodwall Jefferson Parish, LA Overtopping Q1 2025

Harvey Lock Forebay – Levee Jefferson Parish, LA Overtopping/ Floodwall Q3 2025

IHNC Lock Forebay – Levee Orleans Parish, LA Levee Enlargement/ Floodwall Q1 2027

Port Allen West Baton Rouge Parish, LA Levee Enlargement/ Floodwall Q1 2026

Thomas Point/Smithfield West Baton Rouge Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q3 2025

Plaquemines/ Reveille Iberville Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q3 2025

Bayou Goula to Alhambra Iberville Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q3 2025

Marchand/Carville/Ben Hur Rd Iberville, Ascension, & Baton 

Rouge Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q1 2027

Smoke Bend Ascension Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q4 2025

Welham Plantation St. James Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q4 2025

Belmont/Romeville-College/ 

Romeville

St. James & Ascension 

Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q4 2025

Waggaman Jefferson Parish, LA Levee Enlargement Q4 2025

*NOTE: Solicitation dates are based on Fiscal Year Calendar, and are subject to change as designs are refined
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MORGANZA TO THE GULF PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Description/Scope:

 DRSAA, IIJA, & BIL authorized funding for design and/or construction to address flood risk management concerns:

• Features funded for design and construction:

o Reach A Levee (portion) 

o Lockport to Larose (portion)

o Minors Canal Floodgate

o GIWW West Floodgate

o GIWW East Floodgate

o Humble Canal Floodgate

• Features funded for design include: 

o Reach F Levee

o Reach J-2 Levee

o Reach L Levee

o Reach K Levee

o Bayou Terrebonne Floodgate

o Shell Floodgate

 Proposed work includes levee enlargements, floodwalls, water control structures and seepage remediation 

 Solicitations between ~Q3 FY24 through ~Q4 FY26

 Award range $10M - $250M
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Morganza to the Gulf

PROJECT DELIVERY SCHEDULE

Project Name Project Location Type of Work Solicitation*

Reach A Levee (portion) Terrebonne Parish, LA Levee Construction Q3 2024

Lockport to LaRose (portion) Lafourche Parish, LA Levee Construction TBD

Minors Canal Floodgate Terrebonne Parish, LA Floodgate TBD

GIWW West Floodgate Terrebonne Parish, LA Floodgate TBD

GIWW East Floodgate Lafourche Parish, LA Floodgate TBD

Humble Canal Floodgate Terrebonne Parish, LA Floodgate 2027

Reach F Levee Lafourche Parish, LA Levee Lift Q4 2025 (Pending funding)

Reach J-2 Levee Terrebonne Parish, LA Levee Lift and Structure 

Replacement 2026 (Pending Funding)

Reach L Levee Lafourche Parish, LA Levee Lift Pending Funding

Reach K Levee Lafourche Parish, LA Levee Lift and Structure 

Replacement Pending Funding

Bayou Terrebonne Floodgate Lafourche Parish, LA Floodgate Pending Funding

Shell Floodgate Terrebonne Parish, LA Floodgate Pending Funding

*NOTE: Solicitation dates are based on Fiscal Year Calendar, and are subject to change as designs are refined
26 PRESENT: AN INTEGRATED SYSTEM

Dredging

Endangered 

Species

Levees Dikes

Revetment

Flood 

Control

Navigation
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QUESTIONS