Lake Pontchartrain

Is it economically feasible to increase hurricane protection?

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Sen. David Vitter announced that $778,000 in federal funding for a West Shore-Lake Pontchartrain feasibility study was included in the U.S. Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Bill, which passed out of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee last week.

“This study is extremely important to southeast Louisiana,” said Vitter. “We learned a valuable lesson from Katrina about hurricane and flood protection, and we need to ensure all citizens of the greater New Orleans area are protected.”

This study is needed to determine the economic feasibility of providing increased levels of hurricane protection to residents living west of the Bonne Carre Spillway and north of the Mississippi River. The potential for the catastrophic loss of life and property damage continues to increase as land within the West Shore study area is converted from agriculture use to residential and industrial use. The study area is an extremely fast-growing residential area and has a low level of hurricane protection.

“While committee passage is only the first step in the legislative process, it is an important one for securing funding for this project,” Vitter said. “I will continue to work with my colleagues to help keep this federal funding in the final bill.”

The Energy and Water Appropriations Bill is expected to move to the U.S. Senate floor for a vote later this year.

 

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