Improved Planning Needed by Corps of Engineers To Resolve Environmental, Technical and Financial Issues on the Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection Project

Gao ID: MASAD-82-39 August 17, 1982

GAO reviewed the status of the Army Corps of Engineers' Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection Project which is intended to provide hurricane protection to the Greater New Orleans metropolitan area. Because of environmental and other issues, the Project, which was to be completed in 1978, is only half finished.

GAO found that the Corps is considering changing its original plan of barrier structures and some low levees to one requiring much higher levees with no barriers, an alternative which is less costly and less detrimental to the environment. However, besides engineering and environmental concerns, there are also other unresolved problems on the project. Because no project plan has been formally adopted, cost estimates are inaccurate and, due to limited funds, current financing has not been ensured by the local sponsors. In addition, costly work at the drainage canals has not been reported to Congress.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

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