St Roch Drainage Project Megan Frost Brooke Keller

St Roch Drainage Project Megan Frost Brooke Keller Michael Kuhn Amelia Schmidt Paul Walker

St Roch Neighborhood • The neighborhood was first established in the early 1800 s as a community for free people of color. • The modern borders of the area are the diagonal stretch of Florida Ave to Elysian Fields Ave, St Claude, Almonaster Blvd, and I-10. • It was the construction of the interstate that led to the down slide of the neighborhood. , causing many businesses to close and those that were able to move.

Demographics Population 11, 975 living in 4, 336 households 77% in households with between one & four people 91. 5% African-American Economy 27. 2% earn less than $10, 000/year Average income $25, 859 (compared to $43, 176 for the city as a whole) Hurricane impact 44. 4% of those surveyed experienced more than five feet of flooding Information based on Environmental Knowledge and Needs Survey, by The Green Project; www. thegreenproject. org/St. Roch. Survey. Report. pdf

St Roch Drainage Project • The St Roch Community has been plagued with inadequate drainage for decades. Residents have asked for change, but nothing has happened. • We have set forth to explore this issue comprehensively, and present our ideas for a resolution. • While we recognize the large-scope of our proposal- both in finances and dimensions- we also believe its is imperative for the growth of the community.

Blue squares represent drains Our area of study was from Elysian Fields Ave to Franklin Ave, and Claiborne to St Claude

Problem Rating Scale 1 -10 36 1 0 0 2 3 All data 1 from seventy surveys. 0 4 6 5 2 6 7 7 13 8 8 9 10

Frequency of Standing Water From June to November 10% 24% 0 -1 days per week 2 -4 days per week 5+ days per week 66%

Problems Associated with Standing Water 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 86% Mosquitos Car/Walk Problems 64% House/Yard Damage 21%

Additional Problems mentioned • Frogs • Flies • Gnats • Roaches • Rodents • Trash • Mud • Entry to homes impeded • Odor • Termites • Spiders

STANDING WATER

ROAD DETERIORATION

LACK OF CURBS

INADEQUATE INSTALLATION

COVERED/OVER-GROWN DRAINS

HOME DAMAGE

CAR DAMAGE

Lack of drainage poses many health risks West Nile is the number one arthropod-borne virus that affects the US The region has a history of outbreaks of West Nile The such will continue to exist until appropriate measures are taken to eradicate the problem at its source- mosquitoes

West Nile Virus Cases, Louisiana 2006 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 November Information from CDC Louisiana Arbovirus Surveillance Summary, 2006 October September August January February March April May June July 0

8 Incidence by Age & Clinical Event for Humans with WNV 7 6 5 NID 4 Fever 3 Death 2 1 0 0 -14 15 -29 30 -44 45 -59 60 -75 Information from CDC Louisiana Arbovirus Surveillance Summary, 2006 75+

Solutions • Adequate water drainage will only be achieved with the installation of drains throughout the neighborhood • In addition, a comprehensive solution will need to include street to street curbs • For both of these projects, street repaving is necessary • For the areas where drains exist, many of the lines are overgrown, or are not accessible to the existing water flown

Priorities • Elysian Fields Ave • Marigny St • Spain St • Arts St • East/West Streets • St Roch Ave • Mandeville St

Blue squares represent drains

Finances • $10 million in bonds for street improvements to each city council member over 5 year period • $65 million has been allotted for 18 streets, including Elysian Fields • Rebuilding the Water Systems of New Orleans Program • If restarted post-storm • Bring New Orleans Back • Sustainability Subcommittee

Contacts • Greater New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board – Office of Community & Intergovernmental Relations: 504. 585. 2175 • Robert Jackson: 504. 269. 7978; rjackson@swbno. org • Public Works – Robert Mendoza: 504. 658. 8000 • Louisiana Public Health Institute – Jennifer Ruley: 504. 905. 9654; jruley@lphi. org

• City Council – James Carter: 504. 658. 1030 – Public Works Committee • Councilwoman Stacy Head: 504. 658. 1020 • House of Representatives – District 96 • Representative Juan A La. Fonta: 504. 282. 0265 – District 97 • Representative Jean-Paul J Morrell: 504. 942. 5996