When the massive lakefront pumps suffered unexpected degrees of corrosion, the Corps made repairs, but has not yet implemented a final fix. Questions also remain about the integrity of the levees themselves, which are reinforced by steel piles that are susceptible to corrosion in Louisiana’s moist climate. But almost immediately, the pumps showed signs of rust and corrosion. In a tropical climate where moisture pervades the air and the ground, rust is an everyday reality of life, say levee advocates, as they raise concerns about corrosion within the lakefront pumps and levee piles. As the levees were being reconstructed, Speed joined the levee board and CPRA in calling for the Corps to paint the levee piles.