How the Corp plans to protect & restore Ms Gulf Coast

[rajncajn]

http://meetingroom.groupsolutions.us

 

There are several downloads linked in the upper right that outline problem areas, possible solutions & plans that are already in the works. In a couple of days more is to be added to the site that includes possible projects to protect, restore & possibly buy out the area where I live if a feasible solution can not be found. One idea they are toying with is adding an 18' levee between us & the Gulf or adding an 8' one a couple of blocks North of my house in which case I would be included in the buyout program. Either way, I think my days of living with a beautiful coastal view are numbered.

The Hurricanes of 2005 created unprecedented destruction within the Gulf Region of the United States of America. Beginning with Hurricane Cindy on July 6th 2005, which made landfall near Waveland, Mississippi, peaking with Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on the 29th of August on the Louisiana-Mississippi border, and ending with Hurricane Rita on the 24th of September, which also caused additional damage to the coastline of Mississippi, this series of tremendous storms caused unparalleled devastation to homes and businesses, industry, livelihoods, regional economies, environmental resources, and most importantly, dealt a life-changing blow to the people that call this region home. Coastal Mississippi was the point of impact of the greatest tidal surge that has hit the mainland of the United States in its recorded history. Hurricane Katrina caused almost complete destruction of several large coastal communities, and seriously damaged numerous others. The destruction was on a scale unmatched by any natural disaster in U.S. history.

 

In response to these events Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2006 (P.L. 109-148) 30 December 2005, to:

 

“conduct an analysis and design for comprehensive improvements or modifications to existing improvements in the coastal area of Mississippi in the interest of hurricane and storm damage reduction, prevention of saltwater intrusion, preservation of fish and wildlife, prevention of erosion, and other related water resource purposes at full Federal expense; Provided further, that the Secretary shall recommend a cost-effective project, but shall not perform an incremental benefit-cost analysis to identify the recommended project, and shall not make project recommendations based upon maximizing net national economic development benefits; Provided further, that interim recommendations for near term improvements shall be provided within 6 months of enactment of this act with final recommendations within 24 months of this enactment.”

 

 

This mission requires that the Corps provide a report to Congress by 30 June, 2006, which recommends “near-term” improvements and a plan of action to develop a comprehensive plan of improvements. The recommendations for comprehensive improvements will be provided to Congress by December 31, 2007.

[Atlanta Cracker]

So we're going to engineer systems to TRY to protect the entire gulf coast from an extremely rare 35' storm surge that nobody can predict where or when the next one will hit?

 

I think they should bulldoze everything between you and the water and truck in sand so that you can enjoy your beach front property to the fullest!

[rajncajn]

So we're going to engineer systems to TRY to protect the entire gulf coast from an extremely rare 35' storm surge that nobody can predict where or when the next one will hit?

 

I think they should bulldoze everything between you and the water and truck in sand so that you can enjoy your beach front property to the fullest!

That would be awesome.

 

In all seriousness though, Katrina did extreme harm to our current ecosystem. It ravaged the barrier islands which is letting more salinity into the Mississippi Sound. For those of you who don't understand, the Mississippi Sound is a very large natural estuary created by barrier islands several miles off the coast. The islands hold in fresh water & sediment carried into the Gulf by the Mississippi & other smaller rivers. It's why our Gulf waters are so brown in comparison to Florida. The fresh water & sediment are necessary for the shrimp, oyster & "fin" fish (redfish, trout etc...) population to remain healthy. So if we lose those islands then you'll be eating shrimp & oysters from China instead of the much more tasty and fresh Gulf product we enjoy now.

 

The rest of what they want to do is an attempt to protect the coastline from serious erosion. They & everyone else knows there is no protection from another Katrina aside from moving several miles North. But what they want to be able to protect us from is the smaller storms that happen rather frequently and possibly reduce some of the damage caused by these behemoths that come through every 100 years or so. By buying up coastal lands & returning them to marsh & coastal forest type lands they can reduce some of the surge, wave action and inundation caused by these storms.

Edited October 31, 2007 by rajncajn

[Hitman]

That would be awesome.

 

In all seriousness though, Katrina did extreme harm to our current ecosystem. It ravaged the barrier islands which is letting more salinity into the Mississippi Sound. For those of you who don't understand, the Mississippi Sound is a very large natural estuary created by barrier islands several miles off the coast. The islands hold in fresh water & sediment carried into the Gulf by the Mississippi & other smaller rivers. It's why our Gulf waters are so brown in comparison to Florida. The fresh water & sediment are necessary for the shrimp, oyster & "fin" fish (redfish, trout etc...) population to remain healthy. So if we lose those islands then you'll be eating shrimp & oysters from China instead of the much more tasty and fresh Gulf product we enjoy now.

 

The rest of what they want to do is an attempt to protect the coastline from serious erosion. They & everyone else knows there is no protection from another Katrina aside from moving several miles North. But what they want to be able to protect us from is the smaller storms that happen rather frequently and possibly reduce some of the damage caused by these behemoths that come through every 100 years or so. By buying up coastal lands & returning them to marsh & coastal forest type lands they can reduce some of the surge, wave action and inundation caused by these storms.

 

Droppin' knowledge..Policy style. Alot of good info here. Who knows exactly what they will come up with...but I see the reasons (as you stated) that they are looking into doing something.

[I Like Soup]

That would be awesome.

 

In all seriousness though, Katrina did extreme harm to our current ecosystem. It ravaged the barrier islands which is letting more salinity into the Mississippi Sound. For those of you who don't understand, the Mississippi Sound is a very large natural estuary created by barrier islands several miles off the coast. The islands hold in fresh water & sediment carried into the Gulf by the Mississippi & other smaller rivers. It's why our Gulf waters are so brown in comparison to Florida. The fresh water & sediment are necessary for the shrimp, oyster & "fin" fish (redfish, trout etc...) population to remain healthy. So if we lose those islands then you'll be eating shrimp & oysters from China instead of the much more tasty and fresh Gulf product we enjoy now.

 

The rest of what they want to do is an attempt to protect the coastline from serious erosion. They & everyone else knows there is no protection from another Katrina aside from moving several miles North. But what they want to be able to protect us from is the smaller storms that happen rather frequently and possibly reduce some of the damage caused by these behemoths that come through every 100 years or so. By buying up coastal lands & returning them to marsh & coastal forest type lands they can reduce some of the surge, wave action and inundation caused by these storms.

Couldn't it be argued that the levees and our attempts at "solidifying the coastline, etc' is damaging the ecosystem? Don't know, just asking. Someone told me that area was out of control because the levees made it that the storm surge was worse than what it would have been had it now built up and then broken through...