Summary of the Levee Board Presentation
The St. Tammany Levee, Drainage, and Conservation District presented an overview of Eden Isle’s flood‑risk challenges and the extensive planning already completed to address them. Prior studies by USACE, CPRA, and St. Tammany Parish identified the subdivision as highly vulnerable to storm surge and outlined conceptual mitigation strategies. The current effort builds on that foundation, focusing on data collection—topography, geotechnical conditions, hydrology, and environmental factors—to shape a resilient, long‑term protection plan.
The project’s core goal is to increase Eden Isle’s resilience to natural disasters by elevating key roadways and designing infrastructure that can later support full floodwalls. The team evaluated multiple alignment options and emphasized leveraging existing high‑ground features such as the Oak Harbor Levee, I‑10, and Highway 11. Several alternatives were analyzed for Highway 11 and Lakeview Drive, balancing cost, environmental impacts, right‑of‑way constraints, and the ability to add future floodwalls. For both corridors, “Option 2” was recommended because it preserves space for future protection upgrades.
The conceptual 15% design includes raising Highway 11 and Lakeview Drive, constructing a barge gate and pump station at Grand Lagoon, and adding one‑way drainage structures at I‑10. These improvements aim to provide 25‑ to 50‑year flood‑risk reduction while maintaining flexibility for future elevation increases. The presentation also highlighted design challenges—particularly along Lakeview Drive—such as unknown right‑of‑way boundaries, driveway access issues, and engineering requirements for future floodwalls.
To implement the project efficiently, the levee district proposes a phased approach. Phase 1 focuses on elevating Lakeview Drive and constructing the Grand Lagoon gate and pump station. Phase 2 adds the I‑10 drainage structure, while Phase 3 involves re‑initiating the Highway 11 improvements with DOTD. Finally, Phase 4 would evaluate raising the system to a 50‑year level of protection. Overall, the plan positions Eden Isle to take advantage of existing infrastructure while building toward a more robust and adaptable flood‑protection system.
See Presentation
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