Rigolets
{{Infobox river
| name = Rigolets
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| image = Rigolets.JPG
| image_size = 325
| image_caption = The abandoned West Rigolets Light in 2004. It was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
| map = File:The Rigolets (Louisiana) - 2016 NOAA nautical chart.png
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| map_caption = NOAA Coast Survey nautical map 2016
| pushpin_map = Louisiana
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| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = United States
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Louisiana
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| length = {{convert|8|mi|km|abbr=on}}
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| source1 = Lake Pontchartrain
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| source1_coordinates= {{coord|30.177778|-89.744444|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation =
| mouth = Lake Borgne
| mouth_location =
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|30.154444|-89.625278|display=inline,title}}
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| tributaries_left = Old Pearl River
| tributaries_right = Sawmill Pass
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Rigolets is a {{convert|8|mi|km|adj=mid|-long}} deepwater strait in Louisiana. "Rigolets" comes from the word rigole, French for 'trench' or 'gutter'. The name is now locally pronounced "RIG-uh-leez".
The strait begins at {{coord|30|10|40|N|89|44|40|W}} and follows a generally eastward course to Lake Borgne, a lagoon in the Gulf of Mexico, and finally to the Gulf of Mexico, where it ends at {{coord|30|09|16|N|89|37|31|W}}. Along with nearby Chef Menteur Pass, the Rigolets connects Lake Pontchartrain and Lake St. Catherine in Louisiana to Lake Borgne, and then to the Gulf of Mexico.{{cite web |title=The Rigolets |url={{Gnis3|540673}} |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240424172152/https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/gaz-record/540673 |archive-date=2024-04-24 |access-date=2006-04-17 |work=USGS Geographic Names Information System}} {{cite web | title=Comprehensive Habitat Management Plan for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin | work=Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation | date=2005-11-18 | format=PDF | url=http://www.saveourlake.org/pdfs/CHMP%2011-18-05%20web%20release.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316062557/http://www.saveourlake.org/pdfs/CHMP%2011-18-05%20web%20release.pdf | url-status=dead | archive-date=2006-03-16 | access-date=2006-04-15 }} It forms the boundary between New Orleans (Orleans Parish) and St. Tammany Parish.
Tidal pass
As a deepwater tidal pass, the Rigolets helps supply salt water from the Gulf to Lake Pontchartrain.{{cite web |title=Martello Castle Background Information |url=http://www.wetmaap.org/Martello_Castle/Supplement/mc_background.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050504174330/http://www.wetmaap.org/Martello_Castle/Supplement/mc_background.html |archive-date=2005-05-04 |access-date=2006-04-17 |work=Wetland Education through Maps and Aerial Photography |publisher=Chadron State College & USGS - National Wetlands Research Center}} Tidal scouring has produced a deep pit in the lake at the western mouth of the strait.{{cite web |last=Connor |first=Paul, Jr. |last2=Maygarden |first2=Dinah |last3=Penland |first3=Shea |title=Basin Geology - Bathymetry: Bathymetric Map of Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/of02-206/geology/bath-map.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231201163257/https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/of02-206/geology/bath-map.html |archive-date=2023-12-01 |access-date=2006-04-17 |work=Environmental Atlas of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin |publisher=Center for Coastal & Regional Marine Studies, Coastal & Marine Geology Program |id=USGS Open File Report 02-206}} Since the Rigolets is a channel through which Gulf storm surges can approach the New Orleans area, there have been proposals to construct floodgates to try to protect the city, especially since the destructiveness of hurricanes in the early 21st century.{{cite web
|title = Full flood safety in New Orleans could take billions and decades
|work = Louisiana Dept. of Natural Resources
|url = http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/pubinfo/newsr/2005/1129sec-nytimesreprint.ssi
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060718141311/http://dnr.louisiana.gov/sec/execdiv/pubinfo/newsr/2005/1129sec-nytimesreprint.ssi
|url-status = dead
|archive-date = 2006-07-18
|access-date = 2006-04-17
}}
Fort Pike
{{main article|Fort Pike}}
File:Fort Pike Citadel - 7-2009.jpg
The United States constructed Fort Pike following the War of 1812 to protect passage on the Rigolets.{{cite web |author= |date=July 27, 2009 |title=Fort Pike (Hwy 11, Slidell, LA, USA) |url=http://www.stoppingpoints.com/louisiana/St.-Tammany/Fort+Pike.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229123007/http://www.stoppingpoints.com/louisiana/St.-Tammany/Fort+Pike.html |archive-date=2012-02-29 |access-date=2024-04-24 |website=StoppingPoints.com |department=Louisiana State Historical Marker; Listed in the National Register of Historic Places}} The fort was abandoned in 1890 when it was no longer considered necessary.
Bridges
The Rigolets is spanned by two bridges. The western terminus of the U.S. Route 90 Rigolets Bridge is located immediately north of Fort Pike. It was damaged by Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, and required major repairs.{{cite press release | publisher = Louisiana Dept. of Transportation & Development | date = 2005-09-07 | title = DOTD inspects movable bridges in hurricane-affected area | url = http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/press/pressrelease.asp?nRelease=517 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060223164317/http://www.dotd.louisiana.gov/press/pressrelease.asp?nRelease=517 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2006-02-23 }} Farther south, CSX Transportation crosses the Rigolets on a 4,555-ft (1,388-meter) railroad bridge.{{cite news |last=Judge |first=Tom |date=November 2005 |title=Bridging to recovery: a massive effort to rebuild six major bridges following Hurricane Katrina's devastation is now under way on CSXT's Gulf Coast main trunk |url=http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1215/is_11_206/ai_n15895243 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060210233544/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1215/is_11_206/ai_n15895243 |archive-date=2006-02-10 |access-date= |work=Railway Age |publisher=Simmons-Boardman Publishing Corporation |location=Bristol |pages=46-47 |volume=206 |issue=11 |issn=0033-8826 |id={{ProQuest|203841248}}, {{EBSCOhost|18853297}}, {{Gale|A139344784}}, Factiva [https://global.factiva.com/redir/default.aspx?p=sa&NS=16&an=RWA0000020051203e1b100013&drn=drn:archive.newsarticle.RWA0000020051203e1b100013&cat=a&ep=asi RWA0000020051203e1b100013] |eissn=2161511X}} Hurricane damage there from Katrina included shifted spans and the loss of timber decking.{{cite web | title=Restoring Katrina-ravaged bridges | work=Railway Track and Structures | url=http://www.rtands.com/B/feature2.html | access-date=2006-04-15 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20060314082017/http://www.rtands.com/B/feature2.html |archivedate = March 14, 2006}}