Cultural Resources Study Supporting Supplement I to the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Mississippi River Main Line Levee

Abstract : This document presents the results of a comprehensive literature and records review that supports the Supplement I to the Final Environmental Impact Statement, Mississippi River and Tributaries, Mississippi River Levees and Channel Improvement. That document was filed with the Council on Environmental Quality in 1976. This records review was completed on behalf of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, and it included preliminary investigations of 11 levee-related project items throughout southeastern Louisiana. These project items include the Fifth Louisiana District Levee Enlargement; the Baton Rouge Front Levee; the Reveille to Point Pleasant Levee Enlargement; the Carville to Marchand Levee Enlargement and Concrete Slope Pavement; the Hohen-Solms to Modesto Levee Enlargement; the Carrollton Levee Enlargement; the Alhambra to Hohen-Solms Concrete Slope Paving Project; the Jefferson Heights Concrete Slope Paving Project; the New Orleans District Floodwall; the Gap Closures West Bank Concrete Slope Paving Project; and the Gap Closures East Bank Concrete Slope Paving Project. These structures were constructed as part of the Mississippi River and Tributaries Project, authorized by Congress through the Flood Control Act of 1928. The current study was designed to identify all previously conducted cultural resources surveys, as well as previously recorded archeological sites, standing structures, and historic cemeteries located within the 2-kilometer (1.2 mile) wide area of potential effect associated with each of the 11 proposed project items. The records review identified 45 cultural resources investigations that have been conducted within the overall study area. These studies have resulted in the identification of 47 archeological sites, 142 standing structures, and 6 historic cemeteries. In addition, 4 historic districts lie within the overall study corridor. (9 tables, 32 figures, extensive refs.)