Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex The Gulf Intracoastal Waterway West Closure Complex is a part of the New Orleans Drainage System ; it consists of a navigable floodgate , a pumping station , floodwall s , sluice gate s , foreshore protection , and an earthen levee . The complex was designed to reduce risk for residences and businesses in the project area from a storm surge associated with a tropical event with an intensity that has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year . This project was operated for the first time on August 29 , 2012 in response to Hurricane Isaac . Location . The project is located approximately one half mile south of the confluence of the Harvey and Algiers canals on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway . The location is next to the to the Environmental Protection Agency ’ s Bayou aux Carpes Clean Water Act ( CWA ) 404 ( c ) area , a wetland area of national significance . Features . The GIWW West Closure Complex consists of a navigable floodgate , a pumping station , floodwall s , sluice gate s , foreshore protection , and an earthen levee . The project also required the dredging of Algiers Canal , as well as the realignment of Bayou Road . Project challenges consist of maintaining navigation traffic on the GIWW ( a Federal navigation channel with heavy commercial barge traffic ) and the location of the complex in relationship to the Environmental Protection Agency ’ s Bayou aux Carpes Clean Water Act ( CWA ) 404 ( c ) area , a wetland area of national significance . The GIWW West Closure Complex will reduce the risk to a large area of the west bank by removing over of levees , floodwalls , a floodgate , and pumping stations along the Harvey and Algiers canals from the direct impacts of storm surge . The risk reduction surge barrier will be completed by the 2011 Atlantic hurricane season with reduced pumping capacity . All project construction is scheduled for completion in late 2012 . Status . Final approval of the Individual Environmental Report # 12 for the GIWW West Closure Complex was completed 18 February 2009 . On 28 May 09 , the Environmental Protection Agency granted the US Army Corps of Engineers permission to modify the Bayou aux Carpes 1985 determination to allow for construction on the western - most boundary of the wetland area . The Corps held a joint public hearing with the EPA to address all questions and concerns regarding the request for modification of the Bayou Aux Carpes 404 ( c ) area . On 17 April 2009 , the Corps awarded the base portion of the Early Contractor Involvement ( ECI ) contract to Gulf Intracoastal Constructors for pile load testing and pre - construction services . The ECI contracting method ( also known as Construction Management at Risk in private industry ) allows the construction contractor to work hand - in - hand with the Corps and the design team on plan revisions and construction sequencing that will improve the constructability and cost - savings of the project . Several more construction options have been awarded since April . Construction of this risk reduction features began 6 August 2009 . On 6 & 10 March 2011 , installation of the 653 ton ea . sector gates were completed .