DOTD administers funds provided by the Legislature for rights-of-way (ROW) acquisition to assist the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in raising deficient sections of the Mississippi River Levee (MRL) in North East Louisiana. The Fifth Louisiana Levee District (FLLD) maintains 255 miles of mainline levee, and is responsible for land acquisitions in East Carroll, Tensas, Madison, and Concordia Parishes which is subsequently reimbursed by the Department per the Cooperative Endeavor Agreement. So far the State has spent $9 million in ROW acquisitions and the Federal expenditures total more than $130 million on the MRL project. Additonally, per the CEA, DOTD has reimbursed the FLLD an estimated $ 9 million for providing the necessary ROW for the mainline Levee. Levee improvements are based upon the 1973 Project Flowline developed from USACE studies. The Project Flowline requires levee rehabilitation of up to 8 feet with 3 feet of freeboard. DOTD provides engineering services such as highway relocations to further accommodate USACE with the levee raising project. The Mississippi River Levee Raising project is necessary for the continual re-construction and maintenance of the mainline levee to protect lives and properties from flooding.