U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District Information

Our service since 1803 has been an ever-evolving task. We made possible the flatboat and then steamboat trade that gave outlet to the Mississippi Basin’s bounty. After the Great Flood of 1927 on the Mississippi, the Corps assumed a far-larger role in flood control, with great works such as the Bonnet Carre Spillway and Morganza Floodway, and in the century's second half, the Old River Control Structure to keep the Mississippi on course. Today's great challenges are the twin threats of hurricane destruction and coastal erosion. The latter is the main reason that environmental protection is looming larger than either flood control or navigation. However, in the imperiled, 20,000-square mile Louisiana coastal area the three tasks are inextricably linked. Historically comprehensive studies are now underway on coastal restoration and hurricane protection, and will require close coordination for maximum effectiveness. The New Orleans District encompasses 30,000 square miles in Louisiana. The district employs a diverse group of nearly 1,200 professionals at 33 sites within our area of operation. • 5 of the nation’s 15 busiest ports • 13 recreation areas • 15 pumping plants • 18 locks and control structures • 325 miles of hurricane risk reduction levees • 973 miles of MR&T levees • 2,800 miles of navigable waterway • 8,000 annual regulatory actions Missions of the district include: • Navigation • Flood Risk Management • Environmental Stewardship • Emergency Operations • Regulatory • Recreation • Support for Others • Hurricane & Storm Damage Risk Reduction