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Stormwater and Green Infrastructure Projects: Serving Nine Neighborhoods in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana

Following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, New Orleans and surrounding areas have had to work diligently to help with flooding issues. Since 2015, staff with FEMA Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (EHP) has worked hand in hand with the City of New Orleans to address widespread flooding throughout the city and help with neighborhood redevelopment solutions. Engineers and city officials have led the way to incorporate green infrastructure projects to combat flooding by allowing the ground to store or soak up the water collected from storms until the sewers can catch up and slowly drain the water out of the area. This protects properties from flooding, residents can maintain their homes and the city’ infrastructure remains intact.

Currently, EHP is working with city officials to upgrade the drainage pump station that provides flooding protection to residents and properties located in nine neighborhoods: Broadmoor, Central City, the Garden and lower Garden Districts, Irish Channel, St. Thomas, Touro, East Riverside and Milan neighborhoods. To provide one-on-one tailored guidance to the city, a local recovery office was established within the city.

Challenges and Outcomes

Localized street flooding and property damage are recurring neighborhood challenges residents experience. This project will consist of a two-phased implementation approach aimed to reduce flooding risks and to implement green infrastructure enhancements and repairs in the stormwater drainage system. The stormwater infrastructure project will include an underground piping network.  

Other project details include the following:

  • Six stormwater parks
  • Two stormwater lots
  • Eight stormwater drainage (pipe) upgrades associated with stormwater parks
  • Eight green intersections with street basins and eight pervious crosswalks
  • Pervious pavement along three blocks of Annunciation Street
  • Road reconfigurations with bioswales

The proposed project would be accomplished by upgrading the City's stormwater drainage infrastructure with green storage, infiltration, and filtration landscape features along with pipe and street upgrades. Storage would be added throughout the system to create a cascading effect that stores and detains water runoff. It also includes water and sewer improvements that are impacted by the stormwater improvements.

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