Boat U.S. - March 2009 - (Page 22)

rePorts ‘Hurricane Highway’ Coming to Dead End It’s been billed as the U.S. Army Corps storm surge. “We’re required to provide for continued of Engineers’ “largest project in history.” The mammoth surge barrier designed to protect navigation throughout the construction phase New Orleans could also be a great safety boon of the project,” Ron Elmer, a Corps official, told for local boaters. When completed in 2011, BoatU.S. Magazine. “The GIWW is an integral the barrier aims to deter destruction from any part of the inland waterway system for Gulf future catastrophe such as the 2005 storm Coast commerce, linking with the Mississippi surge of Hurricane Katrina for the city and River.” The recently deauthorized MRGO, built in southeastern Louisiana. The Corps broke ground on the barrier 1965 as a shortcut between the Gulf of Mexico — similar to a floodwall but much larger — and New Orleans’ inner harbor, will be blocked Inner-Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) in December, near the meeting points of the off. The small amounts of commercial traffic Gulf IntracoastalSurge Reduction Project Waterway (GIWW) and the (fewer than one ship a day) and recreational US Army Corps Fact Sheet of Engineers controversial Mississippi River Gulf Outlet boaters that use it will take a slightly longer into the city. (MRGO), known ofby locals as “Hurricane route risk reduction for Most agree however, that this Purpose: The Army Corps Engineers is committed to providing a 100-year level of southeast Louisiana in 2011 through its Hurricane Inner Damage Risk Reduction System channel to the Gulf — cited by many and Storm Harbor Highway.”seeks to upgrade existing flood protection features (such as levees70-mile (HSDRRS). A gate on the The HSDRRS and floodwalls) and introduce new features authorized by at Congress The Navigation Canalsurge barrier isandnew Pontchartrain, the system. that willculprit in the destruction caused by Lake deemed necessary to complete asina mainInner Harbor Navigation Canal (IHNC) a feature, authorized by Congress 2006, reduce the risk storm would be the region’s most vulnerable areas – New Hurricane Katrina — has long since passed to whichofonlydamageSt. some ofclosed prior to atostorm, Orleans East, metro New Orleans, the 9 Ward, and Bernard Parish. This project aims protect these areas from storm surge coming andin from the Gulf of Mexico andthe Borgne. another near Lake entrance to Bayou its sell-by date. Bank erosion from ship wakes Bienvenue, also similar tobe erected. Disruption battering the of will a floodwall but much larger, will be constructed near the confluence channel’s sides have made it three Location: A surge barrier, the recreational boaters is Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO), generally for Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) and the expected bank of the GIWWtimes southrunningex- when built. A potential side to be and just wider than north-south from a point just east of Michoud Canal on the north of the isting Bayou Bienvenue flood minimal GIWW and Bayoucontrol structure. Navigation gates will surge comingeffecttheBorgne and/or during construction, the risk of storm bethe from Lake of the blocked-off “Hurricane Highway” however constructed where barrier crosses the Bienvenue to reduce the Gulf Mexico. Another barrierofshould storm navigation gate isboatsfor the Seabrook vicinity where the IHNC meets Lake help protect planned from future could be improved fishing conditions. Pontchartrain to block surge from entering the IHNC from there. “I know people who fish hated being in the MRGO with the large ships,” says Elmer. “I’d think that since they’re no longer using the channel, you might see more recreational boats using it.” — A.D. ® Hurricane Protection Office BoatU.S. th Staging Area 16 Acres Staging Area 27 Acres GIWW Stuctures 33 Acres Floodwater Stucture 10 Acres Staging Area 16 Acres Access Channel 34 Acres MRGO Closure 34 Acres Waterway barriers are under construction to protect New Orleans from storm surge and close the infamous ‘Hurricane Highway.’ New Orleans Hurricane Protection Office BoatU.S. Magazine March 2009 December 2008 Building Strong toP left: coutesy noaa, Middle left: courtesy u.s. arMy corPs of engineers Proposed Open Water Diposal Area 205 Acres

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Boat U.S. - March 2009 Contents Reader Forum Boat U.S. Reports What’s New In The Brew? The Perfect Paint Job Launch Into Spring Boats Gear Wheels One Mom, Two Teens, No Exit So, Nigel Had This Idea Ice Devices It Was A Club Of Their Own Expanding The Boating Universe Tech Connection A Case Study In Getting Results Let’s All Do This Together Classifieds Member Benefits/At Your Service

Boat U.S. - March 2009

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