USACE, CPRA Sign Design Agreement for West Bank and Vicinity Future Levee Lifts Project

Baton Rouge, LA – Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board of Louisiana, the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-West, the Lafourche Basin Conservation Levee and Drainage District, and the Plaquemines Parish Government signed an agreement to begin preconstruction engineering and design phase for upcoming levee lifts of the Greater New Orleans Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System’s West Bank and Vicinity Future Levee Lifts project.The WBV Future Levee Lifts project will incrementally raise project levees and floodwalls to sustain the authorized 100-year level of risk reduction through the year 2073. This initiative is designed to provide continued risk reduction against tropical and hurricane storm surge flooding for approximately 257,000 residents across St. Charles, Jefferson, Orleans, and Plaquemines parishes.

“As always, we look forward to working alongside our state and local partners, especially in the area of storm-risk reduction,” said Col. Scotty Autin, USACE New Orleans District commander. “These levee lifts will provide a major benefit for the residents of these parishes for years to come.”

The Water Resources Development Act of 2022 authorized construction of the WBV Future Levee Lifts, operating under a 65% Federal and 35% Non-Federal cost share. As outlined in the 2023 WBV General Reevaluation Report, these measures address predicted and realized settlement and subsidence of the earthen levee system. Executing these levee lifts in multiple stages over the next 50 years provides an economical and environmentally sustainable approach to maintaining system integrity.

“Today’s agreement is another important step toward keeping our communities protected for the future,” said CPRA Chairman Gordon “Gordy” Dove. “We know these levee systems are critical for the people who live and work across southeast Louisiana, and these improvements will help make sure the West Bank and Vicinity system continues providing strong storm surge risk reduction for years to come. CPRA is proud to continue working closely with our federal and local partners on this effort.” The signing highlights the partnership among local, state, and federal teams required to begin the preconstruction engineering and design phase.

“This agreement represents an important milestone in the continued partnership to strengthen the West Bank hurricane protection system,” said Scott M. Burke, West Bank Flood Authority President. “It reflects a shared commitment to help address future storm surge risks and to maintain reliable flood protection for the residents, businesses, and communities across the West Bank who rely on it every day.” Upcoming project efforts will include comprehensive data collection, technical evaluations, detailed design, and the preparation of construction-ready plans and specifications for the first levee lift construction contract. The first construction contract award is anticipated to occur in 2029, following completion of the preconstruction engineering and design phase.

“The West Bank and Vicinity project represents a proactive investment in the long-term safety and resilience of the region,” said CPRA Executive Director Michael Hare. “This partnership demonstrates what can be accomplished when federal, state, and local agencies work together toward a common goal. Advancing the project will help ensure these communities continue to receive reliable storm surge risk reduction well into the future.” The Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System is designed to provide a 100-year level of risk reduction from storm surge, which has a one percent chance of occurring or being exceeded any given year. The HSDRRS system comprises the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Projects on the east bank of the Mississippi River and the West Bank and Vicinity Projects on the west bank of the river.