London Avenue Canal
Encyclopedia
The London Avenue Canal is a drainage canal
in New Orleans, Louisiana
, used for pumping rain water into Lake Pontchartrain
. The Canal runs through the 7th Ward of New Orleans
from the Gentilly area to the Lakefront.
The Canal was constructed in the first half of the 19th century, commissioned by Alexander Milne, who owned large tracts of land that would later become part of the city of New Orleans but were at the time mostly swamp. The canal originally served to commerce of small boat traffic from Lake Pontchartrain to the "Back of Town" section of New Orleans in addition to swamp drainage (which early on it did little of). By the end of the 19th century, with most commerce shifted to other canals specifically designed for shipping, the London Avenue Canal had achieved its modern function to take flow of drainage mechanically pumped from the streets of the City. However early on this was mostly just water from the river-side of the Canal head; most of the area along the Canal in back of Gentilly Ridge remained cypress swamp with a few cow-pastures subject to periodic flooding.
In the early 20th century the old "London Avenue Machine" steam-pump at the head of the Canal was replaced with a more efficient system of high capacity pumps designed by A. Baldwin Wood
. Residential development of the areas along the Canal in the Gentilly neighborhood (except along the highest ground along Gentilly Road itself) did not begin until after Wood's improved drainage system was operational. Dillard University
was established beside the Canal.
In the 1930s construction of levees along Lake Pontchartrain and the Paris Avenue Canal improved drainage further back along the Canal's borders. With additional lift pumps in place in 1945, the full length of land along the Canal all the way back to the lake was soon developed as residential neighborhoods.
A major project of upgrading the floodwalls and bridges along the Canal was begun in 1999.
The London Avenue Canal Levee
and floodwall was breached during or shortly after Hurricane Katrina
in late August 2005. This breach contributed to the flooding of New Orleans. Some have speculated that were it not for the breaches most of western Gentilly may have been spared from major flooding.
The first major breach, on the west or upper (up-river) side of the canal was behind the homes around the 6100 block of Pratt Drive (about 1/2 block riverward from Robert E. Lee Avenue). A second breach, on the east or lower or down-river side of the canal behind the homes near the intersection of Wilton and Warrington Drives (a block back from Mirabeau Avenue.)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began efforts to fill the breaches in September; More flooding flowed from the incompletely patched canal during Hurricane Rita
the next month, but not enough extent to cause any damage that was not already left from Hurricane Katrina.
Examinations have shown that high water never topped the floodwalls; the flooding was due to engineering failure of the levees and floodwalls. Allegations of design flaws, shoddy construction, and use of inferior materials are being investigated.
Water continued to flow from seepage in the temporary levee in lower breach in sufficient quantity to cover nearby streets as late as the first week of January, 2006. That month the Army Corps of Engineers finished temporary repairs of the canal breaches; a project of more permanent repairs is underway.
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, used for pumping rain water into Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain is a brackish estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. It is the second-largest inland saltwater body of water in the United States, after the Great Salt Lake in Utah, and the largest lake in Louisiana. As an estuary, Pontchartrain is not a true lake.It covers an area of with...
. The Canal runs through the 7th Ward of New Orleans
7th Ward of New Orleans
The 7th Ward is a section of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is geographically the second largest of the 17 Wards of New Orleans, after the 9th Ward.-Boundaries and geography:...
from the Gentilly area to the Lakefront.
In the early 20th century the old "London Avenue Machine" steam-pump at the head of the Canal was replaced with a more efficient system of high capacity pumps designed by A. Baldwin Wood
A. Baldwin Wood
Albert Baldwin Wood was an inventor and engineer from New Orleans, Louisiana. He graduated from Tulane University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1899....
. Residential development of the areas along the Canal in the Gentilly neighborhood (except along the highest ground along Gentilly Road itself) did not begin until after Wood's improved drainage system was operational. Dillard University
Dillard University
Dillard University is a private, historically black liberal arts college in New Orleans, Louisiana. Founded in 1930 incorporating earlier institutions that went back to 1869, it is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the United Methodist Church....
was established beside the Canal.
In the 1930s construction of levees along Lake Pontchartrain and the Paris Avenue Canal improved drainage further back along the Canal's borders. With additional lift pumps in place in 1945, the full length of land along the Canal all the way back to the lake was soon developed as residential neighborhoods.
A major project of upgrading the floodwalls and bridges along the Canal was begun in 1999.
The London Avenue Canal Levee
Levee
A levee, levée, dike , embankment, floodbank or stopbank is an elongated naturally occurring ridge or artificially constructed fill or wall, which regulates water levels...
and floodwall was breached during or shortly after Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
in late August 2005. This breach contributed to the flooding of New Orleans. Some have speculated that were it not for the breaches most of western Gentilly may have been spared from major flooding.
The first major breach, on the west or upper (up-river) side of the canal was behind the homes around the 6100 block of Pratt Drive (about 1/2 block riverward from Robert E. Lee Avenue). A second breach, on the east or lower or down-river side of the canal behind the homes near the intersection of Wilton and Warrington Drives (a block back from Mirabeau Avenue.)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began efforts to fill the breaches in September; More flooding flowed from the incompletely patched canal during Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005...
the next month, but not enough extent to cause any damage that was not already left from Hurricane Katrina.
Examinations have shown that high water never topped the floodwalls; the flooding was due to engineering failure of the levees and floodwalls. Allegations of design flaws, shoddy construction, and use of inferior materials are being investigated.
Water continued to flow from seepage in the temporary levee in lower breach in sufficient quantity to cover nearby streets as late as the first week of January, 2006. That month the Army Corps of Engineers finished temporary repairs of the canal breaches; a project of more permanent repairs is underway.
See also
- Drainage in New OrleansDrainage in New OrleansDrainage in New Orleans, Louisiana has been a major concern since the founding of the city in the early 18th century, remaining an important factor in the history of New Orleans through today....
- Industrial CanalIndustrial CanalThe Industrial Canal is a 5.5 mile waterway in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States. The waterway's proper name, as used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and on NOAA nautical charts, is Inner Harbor Navigation Canal...
- 17th Street Canal17th Street CanalThe 17th Street Canal is a drainage canal in Greater New Orleans, Louisiana, that flows into Lake Pontchartrain. The canal forms a significant portion of the boundary between the city of New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana...
- Effect of Hurricane Katrina on New OrleansEffect of Hurricane Katrina on New OrleansThe effects of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans have been long-lasting. As the center of Katrina passed South-east of New Orleans on August 29, 2005, winds downtown were in the Category 3 range with frequent intense gusts and tidal surge. Hurricane force winds were experienced throughout the...
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works controversies (New Orleans)U.S. Army Corps of Engineers civil works controversies (New Orleans)Through 19 Flood Control Acts since 1917, the United States Congress has authorized the United States Army Corps of Engineers to become involved with design and construction of flood protection and damage reduction system in the Greater New Orleans area and throughout the nation.The Flood Control...
External links
- Gentilly Neighborhood Mapping – Post-Katrina Community Restoration Mapping (Dartmouth College and Dillard University)