Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project
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The Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control Project (Southeast Louisiana Project, or SELA) is a flood control project by the US Army Corps of Engineers to protect the New Orleans district from flooding due to potential storms, hurricanes, or water surges. It was established in 1996.
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[edit] History
Most of New Orleans lies below sea level, and relies on levies to protect the city from Lake Pontchartrain in the north and the Mississippi River in the south. In May 1995, record flooding resulted in seven deaths and $1 billion in damage. As a result, Congress authorised SELA to improve flood control and rainfall drainage systems in Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Tammany Parishes. The authorisation was contained in Section 108 of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1996 and Section 533 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1996.
[edit] Implementation
The project includes improvements to channels, canals, pump stations, and drainage lines, as well as the addition of a new pump station in Orleans Parish.
As of 2002, seven contracts in Orleans Parish were complete, two were underway, and one had yet to be awarded. Other contracts were scheduled for award but limited by insufficient funding.
[edit] See also
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