PROJECT STATUS REPORT as of 03-Jul-2026
PROJECT DATA
| PROJECT: Benneys Bay Diversion DEAUTHORIZED |
| PRIORITY LIST: 10 | PROJECT NO: 1001 | CWPPRA NO: MR-13 | DNR NO: MR-13 |
| PROJECT TYPE: Sediment Diversion | NET ACRES BENEFITTED: |
| REGION: 2 | BASIN: Miss. River Delta | PARISH: Plaquemines |
| LEAD AGENCY: COE |
| LOCAL SPONSOR: DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES, STATE OF LA |
MILESTONES:
| CSA EXECUTION: | ||||
| DESIGN COMPLETION: | 11/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | * | ||
| CONSTRUCTION START: | ||||
| CONSTRUCTION COMPLETION: | ||||
| ESCROW AMENDMENT | No: | |||
| MONITORING PLAN APPROVAL: | ||||
| O and M PLAN APPROVAL: | ||||
| DEAUTHORIZATION DATE: | 05-Jun-2012 | |||
| CASH FLOW PROECTS: | ||||
| Phase 1 Approval: | 10-Jan-2001 | ( Actual ) | ||
| Phase 2 Approval: |
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS:
| CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: | 1 | Steve Scalise |
| STATE SENATE DISTRICT: | 1 | A. G. Crowe |
| STATE HOUSE DISTRICT: | 105 | Christopher J. Leopold |
Point of Contact:
DEPT. OF THE ARMY
CORPS OF ENGINEERS
|
Joshua Carson Project Manager 7400 Leake Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 |
|
PROJECT STATUS REPORT as of 03-Jul-2026
Benneys Bay Diversion DEAUTHORIZED
PROJECT LOCATION:
The project is located in Region 2, Mississippi River birdsfoot delta, Plaquemines Parish. The diversion inlet would be located on the east bank of the Mississippi River at Mile 7.5 Above Head of Passes (AHP), and would divert sediments into Benny's Bay, on the east side of the river.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The project area lost over 15,000 acres of emergent wetlands since 1932, due mainly to subsidence and sediment deprivation. A 50,000 cfs uncontrolled sediment diversion near mile 7.5 AHP in the Mississippi River is proposed to restore wetlands in the area. This site was chosen because it is at the trailing end of a sandbar where sediment capture would be maximized. The conveyance channel would be approximately 670 feet wide and 47 feet deep and slope up to the existing bottom depth of the receiving area (-2 ft). Some dredged material would be placed on either side of the cut for stabilization and the remainder would be placed in shallow open water to create about 100 acres of marsh. To aid in delta growth, bifurcation channels would be dredged about every five years. Two facilities would require relocation: a 16-inch crude oil pipeline owned by Shell and power lines owned by Entergy and Bell South. In addition, approximately 1,100 feet of foreshore dike would need to be removed. This diversion would cause induced dredging downstream in the Mississippi River. Outfall management would be done with sediment retention devices. These would be ten 3-foot high earthen dikes with 1 on 2 side slopes, a 4-foot crown and 27,400 feet in length. They would have low-level weirs at 1,000-foot intervals to allow natural water level fluctuations and fisheries access. They would be built from the receiving area with either a barge-mounted or marsh buggy dragline. The first dikes would be placed fairly near the river. After the area fills, a second set of dikes would be built further out.
PROJECT STATUS: (Project Status Last Updated: )
FUND STATUS:
The current project estimate is $978,100 , which includes $974,114 for construction first costs, and $3,986 and $0 for 20 years of monitoring and operations and maintenance, respectively.
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