[Enchante]

One thing that needs to be looked at extremely closely, I would think, is other land reclamation projects. The one that comes to mind first, since I used to live in Boston, is that in the late 19th century the city filled in a sizable area of bay and mudflats (the now famous "Back Bay") with landfill. The area involved to bring much of NOLA above sea level is vastly greater, of course, but since the depth of landfill required would be much less than filling in a bay, maybe the success of Back Bay in Boston at least suggests a way to look at the problem. I do know that the Back Bay neighborhood became one of the most desireable parts of of the city (well, the part east of Mass. Ave. anyway). It took decades to do this in Boston, but presumably far greater equipment, manpower, and funds could be brought to bear in NOLA.

"This parcel of land was created by filling the tidewater flats of the Charles River. This massive project was begun in 1857. The filling of present-day Back Bay was completed by 1882; filling reached Kenmore Square in 1890, and finished in the Fens in 1900. The project was the largest of a number of land reclamation projects, beginning in 1820, which over the course of time more than doubled the size of the original Boston peninsula. It is frequently observed that this would have been impossible under modern environmental regulations."

[Ruddles]

It's my understanding the Back Bay's fill would liquify under flooding conditions and swallow the buildings. Perhaps a Boston myth. Details anyone?

[BurbankKarl]

well, before they rebuild they have to raise those dikes....shoot, they have already built access roads for two of them....

[elbucko]

"This massive project was begun in 1857."

And when there were plenty of starving Irish immigrants willing to "work for food". There would need to be a governmental and cultural change in NOLA to accomplish what has been done elsewhere. It's not a racist place I'm coming from, but contemplating the reality of the climate and the history of the region. It's a difficult place for progress.