Port Eads, Louisiana

Port Eads
Unincorporated community
Country United States
State Louisiana
Parish Plaquemines
Elevation 0 ft (0.0 m)
Coordinates 29°00′56.153″N 89°10′15.776″W / 29.01559806°N 89.17104889°W / 29.01559806; -89.17104889Coordinates: 29°00′56.153″N 89°10′15.776″W / 29.01559806°N 89.17104889°W / 29.01559806; -89.17104889
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Area code 504
Location of Port Eads in Louisiana
Location of Louisiana in the United States

Port Eads, Louisiana, is located at the southern tip of the Mississippi River, also known as South Pass in Plaquemines Parish.

History

James Buchanan Eads

Port Eads drawing from Feb. 9, 1884 Harper's Weekly.

The Mississippi River in the 100-mile-plus stretch between the port of New Orleans, Louisiana 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.[1] Eads was thus honored by having the port at South Pass named after him.[2]

Hurricane Katrina

The port was completely devastated by Hurricane Katrina. Very little remained except the lighthouse and a few very lucky fishing camps. Two persons attempted to ride out the storm there, but they were not heard from again.

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.[3]

Geography

Lighthouse at Port Eads, April 2008

Port Eads coordinates are 29.015598N, -89.171049W.

At the Head of Passes, the river separates into three main fingers. Port Eads is found at the bottom of the center branch. A lighthouse there serves oceangoing ships. It is accessible only by boat and helicopter.[1]

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. 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.

Arts and culture

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.

References

  1. 1 2 LighthouseFriends.com (10-09-2011). "South Pass,La". LighthouseFriends.com. Retrieved November 9, 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ↑ The Times-Picayune (10-09-2011). "1876:James Buchanan Eads saves the Port of New Orleans". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved November 8, 2012. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑ Terri Sercovich (2010-09-28). "Work to begin on Port Eads Marina". The Plaquemines Gazette. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
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