MANDEVILLE, LA
Neel-Schaffer works to bring an eroding ecosystem back to life
Situated between two “hard” shorelines near Mandeville, a mature cypress forest is rapidly eroding. The Mandeville Lakefront Wetlands Restoration project will prevent further degradation of the existing wetlands and restore a functioning wetlands ecosystem within the area. Storm water from the Galvez and Massena outfalls will be directed through created wetlands, improving water quality within Lake Pontchartrain.
When built, the project will establish a best practice for creation of new wetlands, and providing engineering concepts in support of multiple storm water routing alternatives and coastal engineering concepts for the design of a storm resistant shoreline. The project will also include a bike path and pedestrian link between Old Mandeville and Sunset Point Park.
The project is currently awaiting funding.
Firm’s Responsibilities:
- Survey and geotechnical engineering; Base hydrology model for Galvez and Massena drainage basins utilizing hydrologic (HEC-HMS) and multiple hydraulic (HEC-RAS) models;
- Coordination with federal resource agencies (USACE, USF&WS, and NRCS);
- Preparation of USACE Section 10 and LADNR Coastal Use Permits;
- Management of Biological Resources – Evaluation of existing features and design for wetlands;
- Management of coastal modeling and coastal engineering concepts supporting the shoreline closure; and
- Construction documents for proposed improvements.
The project will include the following features:
- A closure berm with integral pedestrian path and two bridges accommodating flow from the Messina and Galvez drainage outfalls.
- 2.1 acres of created wetlands at elevation 1.5 feet planted with marshay cordgrass.
- 1.7 acres of created wetlands at elevation 1.1 foot planted with smooth cordgrass.
- 1.2 acres of intertidal lagoon and outfall channel (includes lagoon at elevation -2 feet and outfall channel at elevation -3 feet).
- 1.5 acres in transition elevation at 1 to 10 slope.
