Mississippi River Delta Area Small Scale Physical Model

Ardurra supports the Louisiana Coastal Protection & Restoration Authority's (CPRA) comprehensive coastal restoration program by developing and operating sophisticated physical models analyzing sediment transport patterns in the Mississippi River Delta region. The critical research addresses the loss of approximately 220 million tons of annual river sediment to the Gulf and investigates alternative solutions to recover sediments for coastal land restoration.

CPRA selected Ardurra to develop, construct, and operate a small-scale physical model (1:12,000 horizontal scale and 1:500 vertical scale) of the lower Mississippi River and surrounding coastal delta area. The model reproduces sediment transport patterns under existing and modified conditions and analyzes sediment movement driven by wind velocities, providing essential data for large-scale ecosystem restoration project design.

Key Model Development Services:

• Developed a sophisticated physical model at 1:12,000 horizontal and 1:500 vertical scale reproducing the Mississippi River Delta sediment transport patterns

• Prepared 1:50,000 mapping depicting topographic and bathymetric features within project limits, supporting model construction

• Coordinated international model construction with SOGREAH, Inc. in Grenoble, France, ensuring technical specifications and quality standards

• Conducted extensive model studies analyzing sediment transport under existing and modified conditions, plus wind velocity impacts

• Expanded model domain in 2011, encompassing a larger lower delta portion with enhanced scale and reduced horizontal distortion

• Analyzed large-scale diversion locations, predicting navigation dredging requirements and river trends supporting restoration planning

• Prepared comprehensive reports containing study descriptions, results, photography, and illustrations, facilitating understanding of complex riverine systems

The model studies provide CPRA with critical data supporting Federal Water Resources Development Act funding applications for large ecosystem restoration projects. Advanced physical modeling capabilities enable informed decision-making for sediment recovery strategies while supporting Louisiana's coastal protection and restoration objectives.