Terrascope Team 4

Dan Beauboeuf


Bibliography


Water Quality Analysis of a Freshwater Diversion at Caernarvon, Louisiana

Lane, Robert R., and John W. Day Jr. Water Quality Analysis of a Freshwater Diversion At Caernarvon, Louisiana. Coastal Ecology Institute, Louisiana State University. Baton Rouge Louisiana, 1998.

"Since 1991, the Mississippi River has been diverted through a relatively small estuary that encompasses 100km^2 of fresh and brakish, rapidly subsiding wetlands.  The area suffered from nitrogen- nitrate contamination during a documented period from 1984-1990.  When the diversion was implemented it resulted in a rapid reduction of nitrogen and decreased salinite concentrations in the estuary."

Reducing Nitrogen Loads, Especially Nitrate- Nitrogen, to Surface Water, Ground Water, and the Gulf of Mexico

Mitsch, William J., John W. Day Jr., J W. Gilliam, Peter M. Goffman, and Donald L. Hey. Reducing Nitrogen Loads, Especially Nitrate- Nitrogen, to Surface Water, Ground Water, and the Gulf of Mexico. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. 1999.

This report published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration attempts to identify the causes for invreased amounts of harmful nutrients running off into the Gulf of Mexico.  The report describes a persistent and severly low levels of oxygen.  After identifying the root causes for this problem, it proposes some apporaches for reducing this problem.  They include changing cropping systems, reducing nitrogen fertilizer application rates, Managing manure spreading, controlling drainage into wetlands, controlling stormwater drainiage... 

Geological Characteristics of Mississippi Delta

Surface- and Groundwater Hydrology of the Acadian-Pontchartrain NAWQA." US Geological Survey. US Geological Survey. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://la.water.usgs.gov/nawqa/hydrology.htm>.

This website is a description of the geological characteristics of the Mississippi River Delta. It explains the ecological qualities of the areas surrounding the river, as well as the river's chemical composition. The information presented also describes the different types of streams that branch off from the main river. This information is particularly pertinent for wetland redevelopment. The website also briefly describes the soil quality surrounding the river in the New Orleans area as being mostly silts and clays. Levee building must take these specific soil qualities into account.

Levee Districts and Levee Building in Mississippi

Harrison, Robert W. Levee Districts and Levee Building in Mississippi. The Miss. Delta Council, 1951. 1-253.

A study published in 1951 describing the history of the building of levees in the Yazoo Mississippi River Basin.  It features the history of levee construction in New Orleans beginning with the Swamp Land Grant of 1850 and ending with the Federal Flood Control Act of 1927.  This publication is primarily focused on the history and politics of early levee boards in the city.  (i.e. Enough Dirt in the Right Place- The levee program of 1897-1903.  Contract information from 1897.  The effects of building new levees on Arkansas…)

Floods in the Valley of the Mississippi

Kemper, J. P. Floods in the Valley of the Mississippi. New Orleans, Louisiana: National Flood Commission, ca. 1930. 1-255.

J.P. Kemper writes about the 1927 flood of the Mississippi River that prompted the creation of the first comprehensive levee building plan.  He provides an analysis of the damage, costs and suggested courses of action regarding the protection of residents living on the river.  He describes in detail the appropriations process of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the time, as well as describes the conflicting interests of the local levee boards.  Tributary interests are also discussed.  Their ideas were not represented in the final plans but they had suggested to “impound” the water and put it to work in irrigation, removing the need for any levee system at all.

The Mississippi River

Chambers, Julius. The Mississippi River. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1910.

The Mississippi River And Its Wonderful Valley is a history of the Mississippi River Valley.  Chambers begins with the very first Spanish explorers to discover the mouth of the Mississippi River in the late fifteenth century.   It progress to the period of French control of Louisiana, discussing the French explorations of the surrounding land in detail.  This is followed by discussion of the post- Louisiana Purchase explorations of the Jefferson Presidency.  The book ends with the personal accounts of the author as he traveled along the river. 

The Atchafalaya National Heritage Act

United States. Cong. Atchafalaya National Heritage Act. 109th Cong., 1st sess. S. 204. Washington: GPO, 2005.

Introduced by Senators Landrieu and Vitter on January 31, 2005.  Its purpose is to make the Atchafalaya region of Louisiana a National Heritage Area.  Because the Atchafalaya River flows out of the Mississippi River in central Louisiana, it is located in an area of particular historical and ecological importance.  Many of the current residents of the Atchafalaya area are descendants of French speaking people who settled in the eighteenth century.  In addition, it is an ecologically valuable resource because of its connection to the Mississippi.   The Atchafalaya Act allowed for the Federal Government to assist the State of Louisiana in maintaining the area.

Coastal 2050 Plan

"Project Overview." Coast 2050. Louisiana Dept. of Natural Resources. 21 Sept. 2006 <www.coastal2050.gow>.

In 1998 the Federal Government approved Coast 2050, a coastal restoration plan that is intended to address the environmental needs of the wetlands surrounding New Orleans and the Mississippi River.  This plan is supposed to counteract the 25-35 square miles of wetland loss that occur every year off the Louisiana coast.  The focus of the plan is on Barataria Basin, a wetland area that loses the most land per year of all areas (11 square miles per year). 

Breach of Faith

Horne, Jed. Breach of Faith. New York: Random House, 2006.

Breach of Faith is a book describing what happened during hurricane Katrina.  It is a discusses the way that New Orleans residents evacuated the area.  Of particular interest is the groups of people who evacuated compared to those who did not.  Chapter for is of particular interest because it talks about the way people in the city evacuated.  Specifically who evacuated to where and when. 

It’s Cheaper to Go Dutch; the Netherlands is Expert At Keeping Itself Dry So Why Aren’t

Hosenball, Mark. "It's Cheaper to Go Dutch; the Netherlands is Expert At Keeping Itself Dry. So Why Aren'T U.S. Bureaucrats Seeking More of Its Help Rebuilding the Levees?" Newsweek 4 Sept. 2006:

This Newsweek article discusses the possibility of employing Dutch civil engineers in a new levee system to protect New Orleans.  It notes that the government program in place to restore the levees to their former state is a waste of time and resources.  The New Orleans system (the one we are recreating) is supposed to protect for a 100 year storm.  This clearly did not work.  Hosenball also notes that the Dutch systems are designed for a 10,000 year storm. 

A Disaster Long in the Making; How man distorted the delicate dance between the delta and the sea

McQuaid, John, and Mark Schleifstein. "A Disaster Long in the Making; How Man Distorted the Delicate Dance Between the Delta and the Sea." US News & World Report 4 Sept. 2006: 45-46.

For many centuries peoples have lived on the Mississippi River Delta without disrupting the river’s flow.  The river provided inhabitants with transportation and food, and the river was left to flow in whatever direction.  Not until recently has the river been channeled into a specific path.  This channeling made surrounding marshes that used to protect New Orleans shrink from lack of sediment normally deposited by the river.  The area’s natural protection is disappearing.  By the late 80’s and early 90’s analysts knew that the situation had deteriorated to the point where even a small storm could put the city under water.

System Failure Gets Blame In New Orleans

Bergeron, Angelle. "System Failure Gets Blame in New Orleans." Engineering News- Record 12 June 2006: 10.

This article cites the lack of synchronization in the levee system as a major cause for its catastrophic failure.  The system for water management was outmoded, and unsynchronized research data contributed to a disjointed levee system.

Raising Levees is Even More Costly

Sawyer, Tom. "Raising Levees is Even More Costly." Engineering News- Record 10 Apr. 2006: 10.

When President Bush asked Congress to restore the levee system to pre- Katrina levels of protection, it was projected to cost $3.5 Billion dollars.  However research has shown that to give the city protection for a 100 year storm (the protection level originally mandated) the system did not meet federal flood insurance program standards and would require another $6 Billion of additional modification.

Engineers' Panel Urges Study Of All Levees in New Orleans

Schwartz, John. "Engineers' Panel Urges Study of All Levees in New Orleans." The New York Times 26 Mar. 2006, Late ed.: 1.18.

The U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers created a panel in order to analyze its own work on the levee system in New Orleans to find out where it failed.  They reported that the original designers of the levees had not anticipated that floodwaters could push could breach the levees from underneath.  The safest course of action would be to study all the levees in the city for weaknesses.

Investigators Question Levee Repair Work, Corps Defends It

Sawyer, Tom. "Investigators Question Levee Repair Work, Corps Defends It." Engineering News- Record 27 Feb. 2006: 14.

Robert Bea and Raymond Seed, professors of engineering with the National Science Foundation from the University of California Berkeley, claim that the contractors in charge of rebuilding the levees in New Orleans are using faulty materials.  They claim that the scoured areas are being repaired with clay contaminated with too much organic matter to resist erosion. 

Into the Breach

Fischetti, Mark. "Into the Breach." Scientific American Feb. 2006: 92.

The most common way for levees to fail is for water to weaken the base until the barriers topple or collapse.  The only way for levees to withstand water is by building them with very strong foundations. 

Satellite Images Show Parts of the City Are Subsiding at 10 Feet a Century

Berger, Eric. "Satellite Images Show Parts of the City are Subsiding At 10 Feet a Century." Knight Ridder Tribune Business News 1 July 2006.

Satellite pictures indicate that New Orleans is sinking in some areas much more drastically than previously anticipated.  The worst sinking occurs on the eastern boundary of the Lower 9th Ward, and St. Bernard Parish which could have sunk as much as 10 feet.  The levees protecting these areas also appear to have subsided by as much as three feet.

Conspiracy of the Levees: The Latest Battle of New Orleans

Colten, Craig E. "Conspiracy of the Levees: the Latest Battle of New Orleans." World Watch Magazine Sept.-Oct. 2006: 8-13.

A brief history of the development of the City of New Orleans beginning in the pre- French eighteenth century.  Provides a description of the topography of the area, the reasoning behind the early building plans, and a record of floods in the area. 

The Long Strange Resurrection of New Orleans

Mann, Charles C. "The Long Strange Resurrection of New Orleans." Fortune 21 Aug. 2006: 86.

The story of a real estate agent who lives in the wealthy neighborhood unaffected by hurricane Katrina.  Ruthie Frierson is fed up with the levee boards who seem to be interested in everything but levees, the state government who is waiting for the local government to get in order for asking for federal help, and the federal government for not being more interested.  She has started a movement to change New Orleans politics.

Army Builders Accept Blame Over Flooding

Schwartz, John. "Army Builders Accept Blame Over Flooding." The New York Times 2 June 2006, Late ed.: a.1.

Although investigators found no record of misconduct, contractors and the U.S. Army Corps. Of Engineers failed to take into account the properties of the soil on which their levees were built.  The levees show evidence of subsiding multiple feet below acceptable levels.  The Corps. was faulted for not re- examining the levees even after warnings about subsidence.

TO BE EQUAL : Independent Inspection of America’s Flood Control System is Necessary to Avert a Repeat of Katrina

Morial, Marc H. "TO BE EQUAL: Independent Inspection of America's Flood Control System is Necessary to Avert a Repeat of Katrina." The Tennessee Tribune 1 June 2006: a4.

Editorial from the Tennessee Tribune explaining that because the majority of the devastation from hurricane Katrina was the result of human error, it is necessary for U.S. Army Secretary Francis J. Harvey to appoint a commission responsible for inspecting America’s flood protection system. 

Louisiana Had Disjointed Storm Protection, Was System in Name Only,’ Corps Finds

Bordeau, Cain. "Louisiana Had Disjointed Storm Protection, 'Was System in Name Only,' Corps Finds." Chicago Defender 2 June 2006.

U.S. Army Corps. of Engineers concludes after investigation that the levee system in place to protect New Orleans from hurricanes was built disjointedly from conflicting data. 

Map Showing Landslide Area Surrounding New Orleans

Dokka, Roy. Dicovery Channel. 26 Sept. 2006 <http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs/20060327/neworleans_pla_zoom0.html>.

"Not only is southern Louisiana sinking, it's sliding, says a geologist who has mapped out a giant landslide, above, that runs right through New Orleans." Roy Dokka




MIT