Flood Control Act of 1965
Enacted on October 27, 1965, by the 89th Congress, the Flood Control Act of 1965 (Title II of Pub. L. 89–298) served as a pivotal piece of legislation designed to safeguard American communities from water-related disasters. This Act granted the United States Army Corps of Engineers the authority to design and construct a vast array of flood control projects across the nation, most notably the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity, Louisiana Hurricane Protection Project.
Beyond flood mitigation, the broader Public Law 89–298 also included the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1965 under Title III, demonstrating a comprehensive federal approach to managing the nation's waterways.
Key Facts
- Legislation: Enacted October 27, 1965, as part of Pub. L. 89–298.
- Primary Authority: Empowered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to lead design and construction.
- New Orleans Focus: Established the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project following Hurricane Betsy.
- Funding Model: Typically utilized a 70% federal and 30% state/local cost-sharing arrangement.
- Controversy: Later investigations cited inadequate design by the Army Corps as the primary cause of levee failures during Hurricane Katrina.
Core Provisions and Authorities
Water Resource Development
Under Section 201 of the Act, the Secretary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers, was authorized to design and construct water resource development projects. These projects encompassed navigation (the movement of ships), flood control, and shore protection. To streamline implementation, any single project costing $10 million or less could be authorized under this section, provided it adhered to local cost-sharing requirements similar to larger projects.
Surveys and Planning
Section 208 authorized the Corps of Engineers to conduct essential surveys for flood control and allied purposes. This included critical planning for drainage and channel improvements to ensure water flowed efficiently away from populated areas.
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The Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity Hurricane Protection Project
The most significant application of the 1965 Act was the response to Hurricane Betsy, which caused over $1 billion in losses and multiple levee failures. In response, Congress mandated that the Army Corps of Engineers take over the design and construction of the hurricane flood protection system encircling New Orleans.
The Role of the Orleans Levee District
Before 1965, the Orleans Levee District (OLD), managed by the Orleans Levee Board (OLB), was the primary entity responsible for the region's defenses. The OLD had a unique history of owning real estate; it reclaimed portions of Lake Pontchartrain—a 24-mile wide lake—and sold developed land (such as the Lake Vista and Lake Terrace subdivisions) to fund levee improvements. Following the 1965 Act, the OLD shifted its role from construction to the maintenance and operations of the systems built by the Army Corps.
Design Flaws and the Standard Project Hurricane
To plan the defenses, the Army Corps used a storm model developed in 1959 known as the Standard Project Hurricane (SPH). Despite recommendations from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to increase the model's strength, the Corps did not adjust its construction plans.
Furthermore, while the Army Corps proposed a 200-year flood protection level, local levee boards opted for a 100-year flood level because it was more cost-effective. This decision directly influenced the final design. By the time Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, the project was only 60-90% complete, with an original estimated completion date of 2015.
Aftermath and Accountability
Following the catastrophic flooding of 2005, seven major investigations concluded that the primary cause of the failure was inadequate design and construction by the Army Corps of Engineers. The devastation was immense; while the National Hurricane Center later revised the fatality toll from 1,833 to 1,392, the economic impact remained staggering, with NOAA estimating damages at $190 billion.
National Scope of Projects
While New Orleans was a primary focus, the Act authorized numerous projects across the United States to improve water management and safety.
| Region/Basin | Key Locations/Details |
|---|---|
| Northeast | St John River (ME), Housatonic River (CT), Long Island Sound, NY and NJ Coastal Areas |
| South Atlantic | Neuse River (NC), Flint River (GA), Central and Southern Florida Basin |
| Mississippi Valley | Lower Mississippi River, Ouachita River, Red River (AR, LA, TX), Upper Mississippi River |
| Midwest/Great Lakes | Missouri River Basin, Ohio River Basin, Great Lakes Basin, Red River of the North |
| West/Pacific | Little Colorado and Gila River (AZ), various California River Basins, San Francisco Bay, Columbia River (OR, WA) |
| Other Specifics | Kahoma Stream (HI) - $18.5 million cost |
Additional Mandates and Modifications
The Act also addressed specific environmental and legislative needs:
- Water Quality: Section 216 authorized studies on water and wastewater quality in the San Francisco Bay area.
- Legislative Updates: The Act modified previous Flood Control Acts from 1944, 1958, 1960, and 1962 to address specific issues such as funding limitations and impacts on roads near the Whitney Dam in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the primary purpose of the Flood Control Act of 1965?
The Act authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to design and construct various flood control, navigation, and shore protection projects across the United States, with a major focus on protecting New Orleans from hurricanes.
Why did the New Orleans levee system fail during Hurricane Katrina?
Seven major investigations concluded that the primary cause was inadequate design and construction by the Army Corps of Engineers, including the use of an outdated storm model (SPH) and the decision to build for a 100-year flood rather than a 200-year flood.
How was the Lake Pontchartrain project funded?
The project followed a typical cost-share arrangement where the federal government paid 70 percent of the costs, while state and local interests covered the remaining 30 percent.
What was the Standard Project Hurricane (SPH)?
The SPH was a storm model developed in 1959 used by the Army Corps of Engineers to design flood protection. It became a point of contention because the Corps did not update the model's strength despite recommendations from NOAA.
What was the final estimated cost of the Lake Pontchartrain project at its inception?
According to Government Accountability Office testimony, the project was initially expected to cost approximately $85 million and take about 13 years to complete.