Long arm of the claw A 75-foot reach allows this operator to reach all the way across this St. Bernard Parish canal. LA-RFO Photo by George Marcec. Back to Features

St. Bernard Parish Canal Cleanout Mucky, but Crucial
By Tom Clarkson, public affairs specialist, Louisiana Recovery Field Office  9/6/07

ST. BERNARD PARISH, LA… Mud, sludge, muck and more. Add to that tons of slushy mire and sediment, miles of marsh grass, tree debris, construction material, and household trash and you’ve a highly ineffective flood canal.

As yet another of the myriad of projects undertaken by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Louisiana Recovery Field Office, nineteen miles of flood control canals in St. Bernard Parish are being cleaned out.  When complete, it is estimated that 81,000 cubic yards will have been pulled out of these two main canals to improve storm drainage.

Waukegan, Ill., resident, Shawn McGinty, with 33 years of federal government experience, has spent the last six months handling special projects such as this in New Orleans.  He came to the Crescent City from the Corp’s Chicago District where his regular job is that of construction representative.

“We pull out lawn chairs, household trash cans, old tires and all manner of rubbish and remains,” he explains.  “But,” he continues, “when we’re done – in about two weeks – these canals will effectively flow to and through their pump stations.”

He stops to check that he crew is proceeding correctly with their exacting work and explains, “One of our biggest challenges is ensuring that we maintain the proper grade and specific, necessary depth along these waterways.”

The vehicle his team is so effectively employing that day is interesting looking.  It is a large diesel powered tractor with an extension arm of nearly 80 feet stretching out to the front, with large, heavy counter weights behind.  The ponderous machine slowly sluices along the canal on tracks mounted upon pontoons. 

“These canals have been here since the parish populous started to build in this area and are an important aspect of flood control, so this team takes their work very seriously,” says McGinty. 

He turns and watches as the hoe scoops up another large bucket of slimy silt, water slithering through its dirty, steel teeth, and says – almost to himself – “This really is important and necessary flood control work.”  

Corps canal team Shawn McGinty (l) and Jay Nelson, QA, on the St. Bernard Canal cleanout project. LA-RFO Photo by George Marcec.