Congress makes New Orleans pay to fix federal levees

As reported by the Associated Press, Congress is requiring Louisiana to pay $1.8 billion to shore up levee protection in metro New Orleans and must pay it in just three years. This Congressional requirement is unfathomable since it was the federal government’s water structures that nearly destroyed New Orleans and nearby St. Bernard parish in August 2005.

First, the federal US Army Corps of Engineers carved up the Gulf wetlands with 10,000 miles of canals for shipping and oil providing 30% of the nation’s oil and gas production but eroding wetlands making Louisiana more vulnerable to flooding.

Second, a Corps-built navigation channel, the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet contributed hugely to wetland loss, intensified storm surge and helped funnel water into New Orleans.

Third, as pointed out by John Barry author of Rising Tide, federally built dams built to provide electricity, irrigation and flood protection in the Upper Midwest and High Plains have trapped sediment causing Louisiana to lose land.

And finally, the Corps of Engineers built shoddy levees in the heart of New Orleans which breached 4 feet below design specs.

The workmanship of the federal US Army Corps of Engineers has killed more than 1,600 people, flooded 85 percent of New Orleans and 100% of St. Bernard.

Haven’t the citizens of Louisiana paid enough?

If you haven’t yet, please click here to demand the 8/29 Investigation Act, a third party analysis of why metro New Orleans was so vulnerable to flooding during Katrina.