[StBernard] Corp of Engineers: Best option is to close MRGO

[Westley Annis]

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says the best option for dealing with the
Mississippi River Gulf Outlet appears to be permanently closing the
controversial ship channel.
The corps Friday delivered a draft plan to Congress that concludes
maintaining the channel for shallow- or deep-draft navigation is not cost
effective.
 
Instead, an armored dirt levee should be built across the channel just south
of Bayou LaLoutre near Hopedale, according to the report.
 
That echoes a recently released draft of a comprehensive coastal-restoration
plan by Louisiana officials.
 
After storm surge from Hurricane Katrina swept up the Mississippi River Gulf
Outlet into St. Bernard Parish, Congress asked the corps for a report on
what should be done with the channel.
 
A final report will be released in December 2007 as part of the larger
Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration plan the corps is developing.
 
The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet runs through St. Bernard Parish and
connects the Gulf of Mexico to the port in New Orleans.
 
Built in the 1960s, the channel has been the center of controversy for
years. Many claim the channel destroyed surrounding wetlands and worsened
the storm-surge flooding of St. Bernard Parish during Hurricane Katrina