WET LANDS OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. 21 



will reduce further the cost of levee and drainage-channel construction. This 

 •will consist principally in utilizing the natural ridges as levees and the natural 

 streams as drainage channels. 



While it is not considered feasible to include the entire section under dis- 

 cussion in one or two levee districts, ii would appear that the number of such 

 districts could be made comparatively few; and if an attempt is to be made 

 to reclaim any considerable areas near the coast line, or where the storm tides 

 are likely to be above 6 feet, the question of a general protection levee for that 

 section of the coast should receive careful consideration. Where the storm 

 tides are likely to exceed 6 feet the cost of the levee will become such a 

 heavy proportion of the cost of reclamation that often it will be proper to 

 construct the general protection levees in advance of the construction of the 

 other drainage improvements, that is, to give protection from tidal overflow to 

 more land than is to be drained completely and utilized immediately. 



DESCRIPTION OF RECLAMATION DISTRICTS. 



Previous to about 1907 there had been no active movement in the drainage 

 of the wet prairies lands of Louisiana. The older plantations along the 

 Mississippi River and other large alluvial streams had extended their clear- 

 ings back to the belt of cypress swamp that usually lies between the ridge 

 along the streams and the grass-covered prairie; there, owing to the expense 

 of clearing such land, further progress usually was checked. At some points, 

 however, where this belt of timber was narrow, the plantations were extended 

 to include relatively small areas of prairie land. Such areas were inclosed with 

 levees, ditches were cut. and pumping plants installed. The land thus re- 

 claimed on such a small scale has proved to be fertile and has been farmed 

 with entire success. 



About eleven years ago the present movement for reclaiming large areas of wet 

 land began, and districts consisting entirely of wet prairie land were inclosed 

 by levees, and drainage systems installed. The degree of success attending 

 these early reclamations interested people from many points outside as w T ell as 

 within the State, and at present the amount of capital invested in drainage im- 

 provements is very great. From the drainage engineer's standpoint the work 

 passed the experimental stage long ago, and by following the best methods used 

 on existing districts the successful drainage of the average type of wet prairie 

 land is assured. Many problems which in the earlier stages of the work con- 

 fronted those in charge have been solved successfully by study and experiment. 

 It is the primary purpose of this bulletin to set forth the results of investiga- 

 tions made so that one new to the work may readily become familiar with the 

 best practice as carried on in the present state of development. 



The degree of success attained in the various methods used in the reclama- 

 tion of these lands has been investigated closely by this office. The investiga- 

 tion has included studies of the natural features of a number of drainage dis- 

 tricts and of the levees, reservoir canals, field laterals, pumping plants, and 

 methods of cultivation, as well as of the records of rainfall and run-off. A large 

 number of districts have been examined closely, and practically every district 

 within the State has been inspected. 



To explain better the nature of the drainage problems encountered and the 

 reclamation methods employed, a detailed discussion of some typical reclaimed 

 areas will be given, and a summary of the results of all investigations pre- 

 sented. These examinations were made during the period from 1909 to the 

 latter part of 1916, and descriptions refer to conditions obtaining during that 

 time and at the end of the period. 



