Ship channel's $238-million dredging project passed a key milestone last month as ships began using a new 48-ft draft standard; last phase will relocate or deepen up to six utility pipelines in the remaining 30 miles to Baton Rouge.

The Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico plan calls for 98 miles of levees and other protections.

The U.S. Army’s senior research scientist for environmental science, believes that engineering is on the brink of a new paradigm, with more federal funds and industry acceptance reflecting his energy and passion.

The $1-trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) signed into law Nov. 15 includes funding for “nature-based” infrastructure, a sign of the growing bipartisan support among lawmakers and federal officials for approaching flood control and other climate change-related projects by  working with natural systems, rather than trying to control them, according to current and former officials at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

Plan includes target dates for advancing more than $4 billion in infrastructure grants.

Interplay between appropriations and bipartisan infrastructure framework is yet to be determined.

Federal, state and local officials broke ground July 26 on a levee project along the western shores of Lake Pontchartrain. It's designed to provide hurricane and storm protection to a three-parish area where 60,000 people have little to no defenses in place.

About $4.3 billion was awarded without competition in the Trump era, a watchdog report says. Many awards lacked full scope details, raising the risk of higher project costs.

Projects and contracts get more local pushback and new scrutiny as $15-billion Trump construction program speeds to end of his presidency