Should NOLA Be Relocated on Higher Ground?

[liberalpragmatist]

First off, I admit to not having a ton of knowledge about this, nor am I familiar with the geography of the city, beyond the lake and the river.

But I recall something some years back when it talked about the "doomsday scenario" for New Orleans, it talked of some experts saying the city should be moved northward (westward?).

Anybody know anything about this? Could most of the city be rebuilt on higher ground? (Hopefully the French Quarter, on higher ground, could stay where it is?)

[Tace]

1. Makes Sense To Me

They could charge big time for land fill.

[snot]

2. I'd favor trying.

In fact, I was thinking tonite, while I support full relief for disaster victims, it should be a condition of any assistance that rebuilding or replacement be located or done in a manner such as to minimize the damage in case of any future recurrence of a similar disaster.

I'm esp. concerned re- coastal areas, since the rise in sea level due to global warming seems likely to get worse before it gets better.

[WhiteTara]

18. in a more perfect world, we would utilize new building

technologies and innovate the way the entire city functions. Nuevo New Orleans could be something really new, but I'm sure we will get the worst of all the old bidnes. I wish Gov Blanco were being inundated with the brightest minds on how to create a new city...move it upriver and make those nasty oil and chemical companies clean up their toxic mess...oh, right, back to the nightmare. Monkey boy reigns

[jbond56]

3. possible

Galveston island was raised something like 11 feet after the 1900 hurricane.

[garthranzz]

4. There is no higher ground

After the French Quarter and Uptown, by Tulane University. You'd have to totally relocate the city - abandon New Orleans.

[liberalpragmatist]

7. Frankly that's what I was getting at

Maybe not move it 100%, but relocate the more low-lying areas, even most of the city. Or that just inconceivable?

[Xithras]

5. A few days ago I'd have said yes.

But the more I think about it, the more I like the Venice idea. Not only would it allow the natural hydrology of the region to reestablish itself, but it would enhance the cities tourist draws AND eliminate the need to worry about maintaining levees.

The areas of the city that are 20+ feet deep are probably not savageable under the plan, but there's no reason that the buildings couldn't be erected with taller foundations in the shallower areas so that the living areas are above the natural water level.

[Lochloosa]

24. There is one major problem w/ this idea...I don't think Venice gets hit by

hurricanes.

[Fleshdancer]

6. I don't know....

New Orleans is an important part of American history. I hate the idea of one storm throwing it all away...doesn't seem fair to future generations.

[liberalpragmatist]

8. I know

That's what I'm asking if maybe parts could be saved, like the French quarter.

EDIT: Having looked at a map, it looks like the area along the Mississippi in the center if mostly above sea level - perhaps areas closer to the lake could be abandoned or allowed to largely revert to water or marshland? Above ground areas and corriders along the Mississippi would be rebuilt and restored, but much of the city would be relocated west perhaps?

[kestrel91316]

9. Hey, they can have all the heavy clay soil (adobe) in my yard ............

to start filling in the NO basin until it's above sea level by a few feet. I am SURE there are lots of other folks with crappy soil they would be happy to ship out of town. Just pack that stuff in tight, and voila!

[intheflow]

10. I would favor this.

It's one thing for a bunch of Europeans in the 17th and 18th centuries to build NO on the coast. After all, hurricanes don't hit the European coastline, the water's either too cold or the shore is protected by Africa. Sea and river ports were the equivalent of the interstate highway system. So they can't be blamed for building where all their experience told them to build.

But for 21st Century civil engineers? We should know better.

Not to mention that if the city was moved inland, the natural bayous, swamps, and marshes would return, providing a natural barrier for storm surges.

[achtung_circus]

11. There still needs to be an ocean/Mississippi interface

due to the volume of traffic. I don't know that it needs to be where it is and the city doen't need to be where it is.

Similar discussion here:

<http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x4517206>

[intheflow]

12. Two words:

Panama Canal. :sarcasm:

I'm being flippant, I'm sorry, a_c. It's late. I certainly understand the economic and strategic value of NO's geographic placement. But I'm sure civil engineers could figure something out.

I'll go check out the other discussion.

[achtung_circus]

13. Panama Canal

doesn't move central grain to an Atlsantic seaport as cheaply and easily as the Mississippi. Lots of other traffic, too.

Flippant I can deal with. I have to stay awake ALL night for a hospital test tomorrow. I will get no sleep and NO CAFFEINE.

[intheflow]

14. Yikes!

What kind of sadistic doctor do you have? Is this why Canadians supposedly bitch about socialized medicine? :P

[achtung_circus]

16. It's called a sleep-deprived EEG- electro encephlegram.

Did I mention???

NO CAFFEINE

[intheflow]

17. I'm very familiar with the EEG.

I was born with a heart condition, EEG's have been part of my healthcare forever. But sleep-deprevation? With no caffeine? It's absolutely inhumane medical practice, I tell you! I suppose cocaine is out of the question... perhaps you could try cold showers and ginsing.

Well, good luck, a_c. I don't mean to rub it in, but I'm heading off to bed. :hi:

[wli]

15. stilts and other building elevation methods would make sense n/t

[darkism]

19. Absolutely not.

Rebuild or fix what's necessary (remember, contrary to what the media would like you to think, the city IS still there) and then fortify it better.

At almost 300 years old, the entire city is a landmark - to move any part of it - even the cold, concrete newer portions - would be blasphemy.

Rebuild it and fortify it with new plans, new methods and an anticipation for the absolute worst.

And don't CUT THE DAMN DISASTER FUNDING.

[Mairead]

20. Perhaps we should think about the general problem instead?

As the polar ice and glaciers melt, I suspect preserving New Orleans will be the least of our concerns...and impossible as well.

Whereas if we figure out a way to prevent that melting, then it'll be possible to think about N.O. particularly.

[Ediacara]

21. No

In my opinion, there should be very real consideration of abandoning New Orleans and other Mississippi delta cities that are below or just slightly above sea level. Rebuilding is economic madness, and another hurricane will only create a worse death toll. I know this isn't anything people want to hear, but the situation is only going to get worse, and abandoning is the only realistic solution to avoid a disaster like this again..

[KamaAina]

22. Will someone please suggest a site for this

and maybe show it to me on a map, and I'll be happy to "war-game" it. But do bear in mind that N.O. is six miles (river to lake) by at least ten (Jefferson Parish to St. Bernard), so you're gonna need an awful lot of room.

[NuttyFluffers]

23. Or people could take a page from pre-columbian tech?

remember the "floating city of flowers" tenochtitlan? in the middle of a gigantic swamp, huge building structures atop fertile man-made islands above swamp flood level, using *gasp* far less dense building material, with canals as traffic lanes. pumice and other volcanic rocks nearby were far lighter than the european favored building material, marble. this explains why tenochtitlan didn't/doesn't sink but marble and concrete encrusted mexico city does -- even after swamp has been drained, actually especially since it's been drained. also they utilized the first level of the island (the one most likely to be saturated in case of swamp overflow) for urban agriculture. this provided enough food urbanly to feed the populace and still have food exports (a statistical utopia compared to modern city tech).

the hurricanes are going to be a problem, but just have all structures be above sea level and start at the 2nd floor with gorgeous 1st lvl promenades next to the canals. easy. just gotta find enough pumice and lighter materials (and with plastic and alloys... there's no excuse). the answers are out there, just gotta pay attention to creative solutions already implemented.