The New Orleans Levee Mess

The Los Angeles Times runs an in-depth investigation into the uneasy partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New Orleans levee commissions that led to the disastrous failure of several levees.

1 minute read

December 26, 2005, 9:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

"But their fractious partnership proved disastrous. While the corps and the Orleans board settled into an acrimonious 15-year relationship, spending $95 million to buttress the city's canal levees, their shared supervision failed to detect crucial weaknesses inside the flood walls before Hurricane Katrina struck.

...Structural inspections were cursory. Maintenance was minimal. A confusing regulatory patchwork of ownership over the levees and canals blurred the lines of authority â€" all shortcomings cited by independent engineering teams analyzing the levees' collapse.

'...The New Orleans board had the reputation of being one of the worst â€" by worst, I mean more political than professional,' said former Louisiana Gov. Charles E. "Buddy" Roemer III, a Republican whose Orleans board appointees launched the 1990 power play in Congress."

FULL STORY: Levees Weakened as New Orleans Board, Federal Engineers Feuded

Sunday, December 25, 2005 in The Los Angeles Times

Infrastructure Louisiana

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Start Learning

Advertise with us

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.