The Mississippi River in the 100-mile-plus stretch between the Port of New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico frequently suffered from silting up of its outlets, stranding ships, or making parts of the river unnavigable for a period of time. Starting in 1876, James Buchanan Eads (1820–1887) solved the problem with a wooden jetty system that narrowed the main outlet of the river. This caused the river to speed up and cut its channel deeper, so allowing year-round navigation and safe access to the river for large steamers. In the twenty years following the completion of the jetties, trade at New Orleans doubled.[2] Eads was thus honored by having the port at South Pass named after him.[3]
The port was completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Very little remained except the lighthouse and a few fishing camps.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) originally obligated $400,000 to rebuild the Port Eads Marina after Katrina. Parish President Billy Nungesser took office in 2007. He felt the $400,000 was insufficient and he personally traveled to Washington, D.C. and appealed the amount. In early 2009, FEMA authorized up to $12 million for the project.[4]
Geographyedit
At the Head of Passes, the river separates into three main fingers. Port Eads is found at the southern end of the center branch. A lighthouse there serves oceangoing ships. It is accessible only by boat and helicopter.[2]
It is used primarily by offshore fishermen who begin their journey in Venice, Louisiana, 20.3 miles to the north. Port Eads offers docking and refueling premises, bunk rooms with an in room bath for rent, weigh station, and a small restaurant. Because of its location, offshore fishermen from around the country flock to Port Eads.[citation needed] It is the closest port to the continental shelf, the 100-fathom curve, in the entire Gulf of Mexico. The shelf is five miles from the port.
Tournamentedit
Each June, the New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament is held there. There have been two one-thousand pound Atlantic blue marlin caught by boats using Port Eads, representing two of three "granders" caught on record in the Gulf of Mexico.[citation needed]
Referencesedit
^U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Port Eads, Louisiana
^ abLighthouseFriends.com. "South Pass, LA". LighthouseFriends.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
^The Times-Picayune (September 10, 2011). "1876:James Buchanan Eads saves the Port of New Orleans". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
^Terri Sercovich (September 28, 2010). "Work to begin on Port Eads Marina". The Plaquemines Gazette. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
External linksedit
Removing the Mississippi’s Mud Lump: The Eads South Pass Navigation Works, article in ASCE Civil Engineering magazine, History lesson 2008.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port Eads, Louisiana.
January 01, 1970
port, eads, louisiana, port, eads, populated, place, southern, mississippi, river, also, known, south, pass, plaquemines, parish, louisiana, united, states, designated, national, historic, civil, engineering, landmark, american, society, civil, engineers, 1982. Port Eads is a populated place 1 at the southern tip of the Mississippi River also known as South Pass in Plaquemines Parish Louisiana United States It was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1982 Port EadsUnincorporated communityLighthouse at Port EadsPort EadsLocation of Port Eads in LouisianaCoordinates 29 00 56 153 N 89 10 15 776 W 29 01559806 N 89 17104889 W 29 01559806 89 17104889CountryUnited StatesStateLouisianaParishPlaqueminesElevation0 ft 0 m Time zoneUTC 6 CST Summer DST UTC 5 CDT Area code504 Contents 1 History 1 1 Eads south pass navigation works 1 2 Hurricane Katrina 2 Geography 3 Tournament 4 References 5 External linksHistory editEads south pass navigation works edit nbsp Port Eads drawing from Feb 9 1884 Harper s Weekly Main article James Buchanan Eads Mississippi River designs The Mississippi River in the 100 mile plus stretch between the Port of New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico frequently suffered from silting up of its outlets stranding ships or making parts of the river unnavigable for a period of time Starting in 1876 James Buchanan Eads 1820 1887 solved the problem with a wooden jetty system that narrowed the main outlet of the river This caused the river to speed up and cut its channel deeper so allowing year round navigation and safe access to the river for large steamers In the twenty years following the completion of the jetties trade at New Orleans doubled 2 Eads was thus honored by having the port at South Pass named after him 3 Eads design for the jetties of the south pass of the Mississippi River was also designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1982 Hurricane Katrina edit The port was completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina Very little remained except the lighthouse and a few fishing camps The Federal Emergency Management Agency FEMA originally obligated 400 000 to rebuild the Port Eads Marina after Katrina Parish President Billy Nungesser took office in 2007 He felt the 400 000 was insufficient and he personally traveled to Washington D C and appealed the amount In early 2009 FEMA authorized up to 12 million for the project 4 Geography editAt the Head of Passes the river separates into three main fingers Port Eads is found at the southern end of the center branch A lighthouse there serves oceangoing ships It is accessible only by boat and helicopter 2 It is used primarily by offshore fishermen who begin their journey in Venice Louisiana 20 3 miles to the north Port Eads offers docking and refueling premises bunk rooms with an in room bath for rent weigh station and a small restaurant Because of its location offshore fishermen from around the country flock to Port Eads citation needed It is the closest port to the continental shelf the 100 fathom curve in the entire Gulf of Mexico The shelf is five miles from the port Tournament editEach June the New Orleans Invitational Billfish Tournament is held there There have been two one thousand pound Atlantic blue marlin caught by boats using Port Eads representing two of three granders caught on record in the Gulf of Mexico citation needed References edit U S Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System Port Eads Louisiana a b LighthouseFriends com South Pass LA LighthouseFriends com Archived from the original on October 18 2012 Retrieved November 9 2012 The Times Picayune September 10 2011 1876 James Buchanan Eads saves the Port of New Orleans The Times Picayune Archived from the original on February 8 2013 Retrieved November 8 2012 Terri Sercovich September 28 2010 Work to begin on Port Eads Marina The Plaquemines Gazette Archived from the original on January 31 2013 Retrieved November 8 2012 External links editRemoving the Mississippi s Mud Lump The Eads South Pass Navigation Works article in ASCE Civil Engineering magazine History lesson 2008 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Port Eads Louisiana Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Port Eads Louisiana amp oldid 1221985729, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
