mitted to Congress. This change includes increases of $130,000 for higher price levels; $328,000 in engineering and design and supervision and administration based on a recent reanalysis of requirements. These increases were partially offset by a net decrease of $258,000 in other features based on more detailed design. Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 Location. The project is located in Rapides, Avoyelles, Evangeline, and St. Landry Parishes in central Louisiana. It consists of diversion channels and channel improvements between the Bayou Rapides control structure near Alexandria and the Bayou Courtableau drainage structure near Courtableau. Authorization.-1941 Flood Control Act. Benefit-cost ratio.-1.7 to 1. PHYSICAL DATA Relocations: Highway and railroad bridges, pipelines, and powerlines to be modified in accordance with project requirements. Channels and canals: Bayou Cocodrie area : Bayou Cocodrie from mile 0 to mile 6.9-channel enlargement, 125 feet wide, 6.9 miles long. Bayou Cocodrie Channel excavation mile 6.9 to mile 16.8-overland cut, varying width from 110 to 120 feet, 9.9 miles long. Bayou Cocodrie from mile 16.8 to mile 32.5— channel enlargement, 35 to 60 feet wide, 15.7 miles long. Bayou Cocodrie from mile 32.5 to mile 42.4 clearing and snagging, 10 miles long. Diversion channel from Bayou Boeuf to Bayou Cocodrie, mile 16.8 to mile 40.2, 35 to 45 feet wide, 23.42 miles long. Bayou Boeuf area: Washington-Courtableau diversion channel-a cutoff channel on Bayou Courtableau between its junction with the Boeuf-Cocodrie channel and the Missouri Pacific Railroad bridge at Courtableau, La., varying bottom width from 35 to 70 feet, 13.7 miles long. Bayou Boeuf-clear channel realinement and enlargement, mile 40.2 to mile 48.63, 50 feet wide, 8.42 miles long. Diversion channel from Bayou Rapides to Bayou Boeuf from mile 48.63 to mile 49.69, 50 feet wide, 1.02 miles long; mile 49.69 to mile 51.37, 85 feet wide, 1.68 miles long; mile 51.37 to mile 59.8, 35 feet wide, 8.43 miles long. Bayou Boeuf Channel enlargement mile 89.55 to mile 90.93, 25 feet wide, 1.38 miles long; mile 51.37-mile 92.8 to mile 106.3 varying widths 24 to 50 feet, 13.5 miles long. Flood control and diversion structures: Bayou Rapides control structure-a 10- by 10-foot reinforced concrete twin box culvert, 240 feet long. Bayou Lamourie control structure, a 10- by 10-foot reinforced concrete box culvert, 202 feet 6 inches long. Lecompte control structure-an ungated spillway with a concrete weir, 128 feet long at elevation 62.1. Bayou Courtableau drainage structure enlargement of existing structure by addition of three 10- by 15-foot reinforced concrete barrels. Status (Jan. 1, 1964) Relocations: Railroad and highway bridges, pipeline and powerline modification.. Channels and canals: Bayou Cocodrie, mile 0 to mile 16.8 channel excavation. Bayou Cocodrie, mile 16.8 to mile 32.5-channel enlargement.. Diversion channel, Bayou Rapides to Bayou Boeuf, mile 48.63 to Bayou Boeuf channel enlargement, mile 89.55 to mile 90.93; mile 51.37-mile 92.8 to mile 106.3.. Flood control and diversion structures: JUSTIFICATION Construction of the project will produce lowering of flood heights and provide facilities for improving the normal drainage of the large areas of land now held in a nonproductive status or in a state of limited development because of inadequate drainage. The facilities for diversion of flow from the Bayou Rapides area will provide relief from floodwaters during high stages of Red River when the capacity of the pumping station at Alexandria, La., is exceeded. The overall project will reduce the flood losses on approximately 61,700 acres of crop and pasture land and the reduction of flooding will permit the increased utilization of about 39,500 acres of cleared and wooded land; irrigation benefits will accrue to about 2,000 acres. At the lower end of the project, in the vicinity of Washington, La., construction of the diversion channel from Washington to Courtableau will resolve the flood problem in the area, accelerate outflow and produce lowered durations as well. Addition of the three barrels to the Courtableau drainage structure will accommodate the increased flow through the west protection levee into the Atchafalaya Basin. Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $300,000 will be applied to the following: Initiate: A contract for enlargement of Bayou Courtableau drainage Engineering and design_. Supervision and administration____. Total______ $257,000 22,000 21,000 300,000 Funds are required for the Washington-Courtableau diversion channel and appurtenances to initiate a continuing contract on the enlargement of Bayou Courtableau drainage structure. The feature design memorandum is scheduled to be completed with fiscal year 1964 funds. Non-Federal costs.-The investment required of local interests in construction of the authorized project is estimated at $423,000, broken down as follows: Lands and damages.. Engineering and design_. Supervision and administration_. Total. $415, 200 2.600 5.200 423,000 Local interests are required to assume all responsibility in the maintenance of this project after completion except for the Courtableau drainage structure which will be maintained and operated with Federal funds. The annual cost to local interests for operation and maintenance and replacements is estimated to be $57,800. Status of local cooperation.-Assurances for the project under the 1941 Flood Control Act have been furnished by the Red River, Atchafalaya, and Bayou Boeuf Levee District on March 9, 1945, and accepted by the United States on June 22, 1945. Assurances for that portion of the project extended to include the Washington-Courtableau diversion channel and enlargement of the Bayou Courtableau drainage structure have not been requested. At the coordination meeting held in Baton Rouge, La., on July 24, 1959, officials of the Red River, Atchafalaya, and Bayou Boeuf Levee District concurred in the plan of improvement and expressed willingness to cooperate in its development. Rights-of-way for enlargement and clearing and snagging of Bayou Cocodrie, mile 16.8 to mile 42.4, and enlargement of Bayou Boeuf, mile 89.55 to mile 106.3, have not been requested. Comparison of Federal cost estimates.-The current Federal cost estimate of $5,700,000 is an increase of $40,000 over the latest estimate ($5,660,000) submitted to Congress. The increase is primarily in engineering and design and supervision and administration based on a recent reanalysis of requirements. Project cost estimate Summary construction program (PB-1), fiscal years 1964 and 1965 Item Location. The project is located on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain, in Jefferson Parish, La., and extends from the Orleans Parish line to the St. Charles Parish line. Authorization.-Flood Control Act approved May 15, 1928, as amended. 1 In addition and prior to the authorization of the present project, local interests constructed levees to provide protection for the area, the costs of which are not known. Levees: PHYSICAL DATA Average height: 10 feet (lakeshore levees); 8 feet (levees along Jefferson- Length: 10.2 miles (lakeshore levees); 7.2 miles (parish lines levees). JUSTIFICATION Destructive tides in Lake Pontchartrain occurred in the 1901 and 1915 hurricanes and were repeated in the 1947 hurricane. Since 1920, commercial, industrial, and residential development in the city of New Orleans has progressed steadily, with a very rapid growth since 1940. This growth extended lakeward into reclaimed marshland and into the adjacent Jefferson Parish. During the hurricane of September 1947 excessive tides overtopped the Jefferson Parish lakeshore levees over much of their length and inundated the highly developed urban area of Metairie as well as pasture and other lands. This overtopping of the levees weakened them with the result that the crown was reduced in elevation or eroded. Residential sections as far as 21⁄2 miles from the lake were flooded to depths ranging up to 8 feet. Of the 50-square-mile area in Jefferson Parish, lying between Lake Ponchartrain and the Mississippi River, 39 square miles were inundated. The three pumping stations which normally removed the interior drainage were flood and rendered inoperative, as were the parish incinerator and sewage disposal plant, creating a serious health hazard. The Moisant Internation Airport (now New Orleans International Airport) was flooded and closed, urban busline operations interrupted, public schools made inoperable, stocks of many mercantile establishments suffered water damage and livestock of many dairy and poultry farms were destroyed; 2,000 homes were damaged, 800 families evacuated, and home furnishings, automobiles, and personal effects damaged or destroyed. The 1960 population of the area flooded in 1947 is about 85,000 and the value of land and improvements is estimated at $905,879,000. The hurricane of September 1947 caused damages in the project area of $3,899,000. It is estimated that damages of $21,755,000 were prevented by the project during Hurricane Flossy in September 1956. Damages of $110 million were estimated to have been prevented during Hurricane Carla in September 1961, due to the extensive developments that had taken place at that time. Fiscal year 1965.-The requested amount of $210,000 will be applied as follows: Continue: Complete: Item B-8 lakeshore levee slope paving (intermittent locations). Total $10,000 15,000 185,000 --- 210,000 Non-Federal cost.-The investment required of local interests in construction of the authorized project is estimated at $3,130,000, broken down as follows: Cash contribution___ $1,050, 000 310,000 Lands, easements, and rights-of-way-- Bridge alterations- Utility alteration and building removal_. Total. 1,500,000 120,000 150,000 3, 130, 000 Local interests are required to maintain the project upon completion. The annual maintenance cost to local interests is estimated to be $130,000 for maintenance and $11,900 for replacements. Prior to the present Federal project, the Fourth Jefferson Drainage District was responsible for the protection of the area against storm tides from Lake Pontchartrain and for other purposes. Levees were constructed to provide the protection; however, the costs of these levees are not available. Also local interests have incurred expenditures of about $325,000 in repairing and restoring the system after damages from storms and hurricanes. Status of local cooperation.-Assurances of local cooperation were furnished for this project as follows: (a) Board of Commissioners, Pontchartrain Levee District by resolution adopted on May 22, 1948, and February 3, 1953. (b) Board of Commissioners of the Fourth Jefferson Drainage District by resolution adopted January 9, 1953. Local interests have completed the enlargement of approximately 45 miles of drainage canals; rehabilitated four pumping stations and have contributed the total amount of the required cash contribution. Local interests are meeting their obligations as required. |