A Comprehensive Modeling System For Mid-Breton Sedimentation Diversion Project

To address the problem of large-scale land loss in coastal Louisiana caused by sediment deprivation, hydrologic alteration, subsidence sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) initiated several sediment diversion projects in the Lower Mississippi River (LMR). The Mid-Breton Sediment Diversion (MBrSD) project is one of the costal restoration projects proposed to restore natural processes in Breton Sound, which can strategically re-establish hydrologic flows, carry land-building sediments, nourish marshes, and sustain land. Various numerical models were developed to support the development of the diversion design. The models include 1D/2D hydraulic models, 3D hydrodynamic models and CFD models. This paper describes the development of the comprehensive model system to support the diversion design.