Hurricane preparation is critical for cities along the Gulf Coast. That’s why a more than $300 million project is underway in Louisiana to protect communities, businesses, and the environment.

A new levee system is being constructed to reduce flooding and storm surge caused by hurricanes and to provide another path for ships to safely navigate inland. The historic project begins in the city of Houma, which is about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans, and stretches into the Gulf.

“This is a really important economic and ecological project for Louisiana."

“The Gulf Coast gets hit by hurricanes that flood coastal communities almost every year,” said Ranjit Jadhav, an Olsson technical expert. “When hurricanes come, the floodgate is shut. But sometimes ships need more time to retreat inland. We’re building a lock, so even if the floodgate is closed, ships can use the lock.”

This effort is part of the Morganza to the Gulf of America, Louisiana (MTG) project, which is a 98-mile system of earthen levees, floodgates, and water control structures across Louisiana’s Terrebonne Bay. The project is designed to help reduce flooding and storm surge risk during hurricane season.

Un(locking) the Houma Navigation Canal

A key component of the MTG levee system is the lock complex being constructed on the Houma Navigation Canal (HNC), a federally maintained waterway that connects the Gulf with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at the city of Houma. Once completed, it will safeguard communities and provide massive ecological and economic benefits.

Enter Olsson. Before construction began on the HNC lock complex, we built one of the largest coastal hydraulic models in the state’s history, enabling us to conduct specialized hydraulic simulations. We informed the lock system’s design by using the model to analyze the flow of water through 10 bayous and wetlands in the project area.

We also worked with a software developer to innovate a first-of-its-kind modeling software, which streamlined the process. The advanced technology helped accelerate our analysis, results, and recommendation for the client.

“The new software sped up the model 10 times, saving money and time,” Ranjit said. “We’ve also been able to successfully use the software for several other projects for the state.”

Now, after two decades of planning, the project is underway and estimated to be completed in 2026.

Preserving businesses, protecting people and the environment

The area is an economic hub, sitting near two major navigation corridors: the Mississippi River and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Ships use the Houma Navigation Canal to travel inland and service the oil and gas industry’s offshore infrastructure.

Once completed, the HNC Lock Complex will provide another avenue for boats to travel inland from the gulf during hurricanes and storms.

“The project opens up a little more window for the shipping industry there,” Ranjit said. “If the floodgate is closed, ships can still navigate inland using the lock complex, which is a huge economic benefit.”  

Our feasibility study also helped our project partners assess important environmental benefits. Once completed, the HNC Lock Complex will minimize saltwater intrusion inland.  

“What’s happened over the years is the canal got deeper and wider through natural erosion, which allowed more saltwater to intrude inland,” he said. “The vegetation is not used to that kind of salinity, which causes it to die off and further erode critical wetlands in the area.”

The new infrastructure is designed to limit saltwater intrusion and distribute freshwater within the Terrebonne Basin. The result? Cleaner drinking water for communities and the preservation of thousands of acres of wetlands that serve as critical wildlife habitat and nurseries for fisheries.

“This is a really important economic and ecological project for Louisiana,” Ranjit said.

One lock complex. One large impact.

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