The “Storms Flooding and Sea Level Defense 2022” conference, produced by the Propeller Club of Northern California and the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), heard that coastal protections will cost for: 1) Louisiana $50 billion; and 2) for Texas $34 billion.
In one instance, the cost of storm surge barriers to protect Texas’ Galveston Bay rose from $12 billion in 2019 to $17 billion in 2022.
On October 11, 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), New Orleans District began construction of an underwater sill, across the bed of the Mississippi River channel to prevent further upriver progression of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico. Fresh water in Palquemines Parish, South of New Orleans, was threatened.[1]
The cost for coastal protections in Texas may go higher if Congress does not appropriate funding right away, according to Kelly Burks-Copes, Chief, Program Support Branch, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District.
Other states will also be seeking federal funding for coastal protection projects and may also experience accelerated costs if Congress delays funding.
The Storms Flooding & Sea Level Defense 2022 conference took place via Zoom on November 9th, 2022.
The conference sponsors included: Towill, Fugro, Wilshire Consulting, Port of Los Angeles, Stantec, Cell-Crete and Watermaster, North America.