Clearing of Peoples Avenue and Florida Avenue canals almost done

Clearing of Peoples Avenue and Florida Avenue canals are nearing completion as part of the SELA 26 project, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ New Orleans District said.

This process produces an improved flow and volume capacity in the drainage canals.

According to USACE, the Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Damage Reduction Project (SELA) reduces the risk of flood damages due to rainfall flooding in Orleans, Jefferson and St. Tammany parishes.

The improvements generally support the parishes’ master drainage plans and provide flood risk reduction up to a level associated with a 10-year rainfall event.

“A 10-year event is basically a rain storm that has a 10% annual probability of occurrence and equates to approximately 9 inches of rain over a 24-hour period for our area,” said USACE. 

The project includes a total of over $2 billion dollars of improvements in Jefferson and Orleans parishes.