Exchange knowledge of flood protection
During a one day seminar water managers from Louisiana and the Netherlands discussed the latest developments in the management of large scale flood defense systems with a focus on the challenges and innovations in flood risk management. The seminar is a follow up to an earlier visit by the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority to Netherlands in August 2009. During their visit, the SLFPA learned more about the Dutch approach for carrying out safety assessments, inspections and maintenance planning and the existing information system of the Delfland Water Board was demonstrated. This Board is responsible for keeping the levees in its area strong and stable. It has developed its own sophisticated management system and an automated planning and maintenance program.

Flood defense system
After Katrina, huge efforts have been undertaken to strengthen and improve the hurricane protection system in New Orleans. By June 1, 2011 the system is expected to provide a 100 year level of protection to the Greater New Orleans area. The system includes some major storm surge barriers, such as the two mile long storm surge barrier to close off the Inner Harbor Navigation Channel (IHNC) from hurricane surge.

One future challenge is the development of an effective organisation for the management and maintenance of this comprehensive and complex flood defense system. Dutch engineers from Royal Haskoning, Fugro, HKV in cooperation with the Delfland Water Board have developed a system that will assist the local levee managers in their primary tasks (retrieving general system information, permitting, inspection and emergency operations) and will support effective communication and exchange with state and federal systems and requirements. This levee information system could also be of use for other parts of Louisiana and other states dealing with flood protection.