Cedarville Engineering Group LLC

Scope Of Work

New Orleans is located in a low-lying area just above, at, or below sea level.  There is an extensive pump system that pumps stormwater collected from canals during storm events and seepage from the surrounding surface water bodies recharging the groundwater table to Lake Pontchartrain; inevitably this water makes its way back towards New Orleans, only to be pumped again. This constant pumping has led to subsidence.

Disconnecting and redirecting portions of stormwater flows from the canals and pumps in New Orleans would reduce the amount of water entering the pump system and may reduce the rate of subsidence in New Orleans.  Based on the soil conditions encountered and the stormwater flows that are present within each sub-watershed, there would be a variety of stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs) for managing stormwater.

Managing stormwater requires a decentralized approach.  While there may be consistent site conditions within a neighborhood and one type of BMP may be appropriate, in general the site conditions determine the BMP type.  Depending on the site conditions, a stormwater BMP may provide recharge (e.g. infiltration bed), attenuation and storage (e.g. traditional detention basin), or filtration (created wetland).  Each BMP would require a specific type of operation and maintenance to ensure the long-term performance of the particular facility.