It looks like most dredging projects would cost more like $10.00/cu yard.

In any case, I fear that we will be building a levee around what will be essentially empty neighborhoods.

There are towns up and down the Mississippi that were wiped out in the 1993 flood that have never returned to their pre-flood state of development.

In those towns, it is not uncommon to see a two or three block area of town where there is maybe 2 houses surrounded by empty lots. Those were once neighborhoods where houses lined the streets. But in 12-15 years, they've never been rebuilt, and never will be. The street grids are still there, but that is it.

It will be a disgrace and complete waste of resources if New Orleans is "rebuilt" in that manner. (Wonderfully engineered floodwalls protecting a few scattered houses located in neighborhoods full of of empty lots.)