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5. 'RED RIVER WATERWAY PROJECT r";> (-, en e,.,'i The Louisiana Red River Waterway Commission held a ground breaking ceremony for Lock and Dam 4 and Lock and Dam 5 on September 29, 1990. Phase one of construction on the two vital locks and dams is about 15 percent complete. ~ c':""' . Lock and Dam 1 and 2 are complete and operational. Lock and Dam 3 is about 90 percent complete. One recreation area is open at Fort Buhlow near Pineville and plans are near completion for three more recreation areas. The 1990 flood on the Red River caused inundation on some portions of Fort Buhlow Recreation Area from March through July 1990. It resulted in some minor damage and a major clean up effort from siltation. CUrrently, Fort Buhlow is once again under water. 6. RED RIVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL The Council, created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1969, completed its "Master Plan to Utilize Water in the Red River for Economic Development" in January 1991. Among the Council's recommendations are development of a Water Research Station, study of increased fruit and vegetable production in the Basin, seeking of sufficient funding for chloride control projects, and development of various processing facilities along the Red River. Implementation of the Plan is to be considered during the 1991 Legislative Session. 7. MISSISSIPPI RIVER DEEPENING PROJECT DOTD is the assuring agency for the deepening of the MissiSSippi River to 45 feet. Dredging of Phase I is complete to river mile 161 near Donaldsonville. Mitigation for saltwater intrusion into the water supply of Plaquemines Parish will result in the Corps and the State paying Plaquemines Parish to upgrade and enlarge its water treatment plant and to connect the water supply system in the lower part of the parish .with the one at Belle Chase. The Corps will still be required to build a saltwater sill at mile 64 and will be responsible for any additional mitigation if the saltwater wedge moves past the sill. The mitigation plan is an unusual one thus causing the Corps to move cautiously. The Corps will sign an agreement with the State and the State in turn will sign an agreement with Plaquemines Parish. We hope to have an acceptable agreement by the end of the summer. Phase II of the project, from mile 161 to Baton Rouge, was considered a separable element by the Corps and, therefore, required another economic study. Rock dikes at four cross-overs are being 3, .