Water begins to flow out of two outflow vents during a test by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007. The pumps are used to move water in the canal around closed floodgates. During a hurricane event the gates would be closed keeping water from entering the canals and overtopping the levees.
Water flows from four outflow lines into Lake Pontchartrain during a test by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.
A worker takes a photograph of the water being pumped into Lake Pontchartrain during a test by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.
Water flows from four outflow lines into Lake Pontchartrain during a test by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.
Water is pumped around the floodgates by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.
Water is pumped around the floodgates by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.
Two workers look at the water being pumped around the floodgates by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.
Water is pumped around the floodgates and into Lake Pontchartrain by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Monday, Aug. 27, 2007.
Construction work continues at the control structure at the 17th Street Canal in New Orleans, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007. If the Army Corps of Engineers has its way, and billions in federal funds don't get siphoned off by war or another natural disaster, those who remain in New Orleans should be better protected from flooding by 2015.