The information below and the two attachments were just shared with the entire Louisiana Congressional Delegation, requesting assistance to secure $75 million in supplemental funding to restore and maintain the Mississippi River Ship Channel from the impacts of the long-term flood stages (Great Flood of 2019).

The Coalition is also aware that Public Law 116-20 was signed into law by President Trump on June 6, 2019 after H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 passed both the U.S. Senate (May 23, 2019) and U.S. House of Representatives (June 3, 2019).  The following text is reproduced from TITLE IV CORPS OF ENGINEERS –CIVIL DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY:

“For an additional amount for “Mississippi River and Tributaries” for necessary expenses to address emergency situations at Corps of Engineers projects and rehabilitate and repair damages to Corps of Engineers projects, caused by natural disasters, $575,000,000, to remain available until expended:”…

Coalition members are encouraged to share this request with their delegation contacts and Government Relations staff, PL 116-20 may be the most likely avenue for this funding to recover from a “natural disaster.”

Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of assistance, thank you for your support.

Best Regards,

Sean

Fiscal Year 2019 Emergency Flood Recovery Appropriations Request 61119.pdf

Members of the Louisiana Delegation, 

 Please accept the information below and attached to assist the recovery of the Mississippi River Ship Channel from the impacts of the Great Flood of 2019. 

 The Mississippi River Ship Channel remains deficient and has been negatively impacted by record precipitation levels, record flood length and record amounts of sediment that have impact the Mississippi River Basin in 2019.

1. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Centers for Environmental Information from April 2018 to April 2019 is the wettest yearlong stretch in the history of the contiguous United States.
2. According to NOAA’s National Weather Service tracking of Consecutive Days Above Flood Stage records for the overwhelming majority of the Mississippi River Basin have been set in 2019, eclipsing marks set in other Great Floods (see attached).
3. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) expects to double the average amount of sediment dredge in the area of Southwest Pass by the end of Fiscal Year 2019, the average amount of sediment removed from the Ship Channel in SWP is 19 million cubic yards.  As of today the USACE has dredged 34 million cubic yards in the area of Southwest Pass.  This area of the Ship Channel remains deficient and is the primary concern.

 The Big River Coalition estimates the present supplemental funding need for the Mississippi River Ship Channel (Baton Rouge to the Gulf of Mexico) is $75 million based on the following needs:

1. SOUTHWEST PASS: The Corps will need to extend the present hopper dredge contracts, secure additional hopper dredges and award a cutterhead dredge contract based on historic estimates for a need of 4 to 5 dredges working into August to restore federally authorized channel dimensions.  The ability to extend or award these contracts is critical to the recovery of the Mississippi River Ship Channel in Southwest Pass, there are four key areas that have remained deficient throughout the Great Flood of 2019: the Venice Jump, Cubits Gap, the Head of Passes and the Jetty End of Southwest Pass.  The Corps is reduced to three hopper dredges to try and maintain four areas and will not be able to restore the Ship Channel that remains reduced to 44 feet although Congressionally authorized to 45 feet.

Because of the historic shoaling remaining in Southwest Pass a cutterhead dredge is also needed, cutterhead dredges beneficially use all material to restore wetlands and protect the Ship Channel from storm surge and subsidence.

Southwest Pass is the top priority as the entrance and/or exit to the Mississippi River Ship Channel – “the revolving door to international trade.” 

 

SOUTHWEST PASS SUPPLEMENTAL NEED is estimated to be $27 Million;

1. CROSSINGS ABOVE NEW ORLEANS: There is substantial shoaling across the majority of the Crossings (estimates of up to 25 feet of shoaling), two dustpan dredges have been working for weeks and the third is expected to be on scene by mid-July.  The Crossings will be deficient when the flood stage water levels recede.  The three dustpan dredges will be working into Fiscal Year 2020 and the extra time must be funded, the increased funding may also allow the Corps to use a hopper dredge to help restore the Crossings after Southwest Pass is fully restored.

 

CROSSINGS SUPPLEMENTAL NEED is estimated to be $18 Million.

1. HOPPER DREDGE DISPOSAL AREA (HDDA): The hopper dredges responding to the deficient areas of the Ship Channel in the area of Southwest Pass have placed record amounts of material in the Hopper Dredge Disposal Area. The HDDA project is critical to maintain full use of the disposal area for the hopper dredges assigned to dredge this reach of the Ship Channel.  All material removed from the HDDA is beneficially used, each dredge contract creates 400 or more acres of wetlands in the environmentally sensitive birds’-foot delta.

          HDDA SUPPLEMENTAL NEED is estimated to be $30 Million.

           TOTAL SHIP CHANNEL SUPPLEMENTAL NEED is estimated to be $75 Million.

The Coalition is also aware that Public Law 116-20 was signed into law by President Trump on June 6, 2019 after H.R. 2157 Additional Supplemental Appropriations for Disaster Relief Act, 2019 passed both the U.S. Senate (May 23, 2019) and U.S. House of Representatives (June 3, 2019).  The following text is reproduced from TITLE IV CORPS OF ENGINEERS –CIVIL DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY:

“For an additional amount for “Mississippi River and Tributaries” for necessary expenses to address emergency situations at Corps of Engineers projects and rehabilitate and repair damages to Corps of Engineers projects, caused by natural disasters, $575,000,000, to remain available until expended:”…

Please see the attached information for complete details and do not hesitate to contact the undersigned if more details are needed.