WET LANDS OF SOUTHERN LOUISIANA. 



23 



Levees. 



As the front portion of this tract drains toward the land in the rear by 

 gravity, it is inclosed only partially by levees. Starting where the ground is 

 about 5 feet above mean Gulf level, levees were built around the lower portion 

 to a height of nearly 7 feet above mean Gulf level. The levees were built by a 

 dipper dredge with material taken from the inside of the district. The canal 

 resulting from the levee building was used for a reservoir. The ground was 

 quite soft, and the levees were built up in several layers, and owing to the 



Fig. 3. — Sketch map of Willswood Plantation, Waggaman, Jefferson Paris, La., showing 



ditch and levee system. 



soft nature of the ground the excavated material formed a good bond with the 

 foundation. The berm left between the levees and canal was from 10 feet to 

 15 feet. In 1912 these levees were increased in height to about 9 feet above 

 mean Gulf level by the use of a 1-yard orange-peel dredge mounted on a 

 barge lloating in the reservoir canal. .The levees now have a top width of 

 about 5 feet and side slopes of 2 to 1. As they stand to-day the levees seem 

 to be almost impervious to seepage water. Nothing could be learned as to 

 seepage water during the first year after construction, but the levees show no 

 evidence of any sliding material due to seepage. The water usually is about 

 a foot deep over the land on the outside of the district, though it sometimes 



