COASTAL LOUISIANA
Neel-Schaffer joins the fight to save Louisiana coastline
Neel-Schaffer was selected by the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) for a three-year multiple task order award contract, from 2014-2016, and was re-selected for 2017-2019.
The CPRA is a 50-year, $50 billion program focused on developing and implementing efforts to achieve coastal protection for Louisiana through a comprehensive restoration master plan.
Task orders Neel-Schaffer has been awarded through April 2019 include:
Task Order No. 1 – Teche Vermilion Pump Station Debris Screen: The Teche-Vermillion Pump Station is a water control structure on the Atchafalaya River operated by the Teche-Vermilion Freshwater District. This structure controls water levels within the Teche-Vermillion River Basins. Project features include the design of a Debris Control Screen to prevent Atchafalaya River Debris from entering 280-foot wide pump intake channel. Other Neel-Schaffer services included review of existing geotechnical information for construction of anchoring system for debris screen; review to include recommendation for semi-permanent anchor along with permanent anchor recommendations; and selection of debris screen product, anchor system, and structure position.
Task Order No. 2 – Bayou Mandeville Maintenance Dredging: This project included the beneficial use of dredge material from Bayou Mandeville, located in St. Bernard and Plaquemines Parish. The project area includes a 1-mile long pre-existing access channel from Lake Lery into Bayou Mandeville, with the disposal to supplement the Western Bank of Lake Lery. Project features include collection of new survey data in conjunction with the review of previous project data, coordination with local, state and federal agencies for permitting of dredging project with beneficial use components, and design of dredge template to allow for sufficient vessel movements within channel as well as design for marsh platform and sub-aquatic habitat development.
Development of the channel cross-sections, centerline, and channel edge boundaries were the final project deliverables.
Task Order No. 3 – Calcasieu Ship Cannel Salinity Control Measures Project: The goal of this project is reduce the rates of wetlands loss by limiting salinities being introduced through the CSC into Calcasieu Lake and surrounding wetlands. Through earlier planning and feasibility by CPRA, 14 features were selected that could meet the project objectives. These 14 were narrowed to five. Neel-Schaffer is tasked to provide final engineering and design of two of the five features – Joe’s Cut and West Pass – sill structures.
