re: Who owns the land behind the levee, what's the punishment?

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Actually, I believe in those instances, the grain elevators/refineries/ship yards etc. own the rights to the land. Since they have invested hundred of thousands, if not millions in pipelines and various equipment to load/unload ships and barges.

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Nope

SOMEBODY owns the land. It is properly referred to as "batture" property.

Typically the same person or entity owns land on both sides of the levee. The levee board owns a servitude for the maintenance of the levee.

You can be charged with trespassing by the levee board for going onto the levee, and you can be charged with trespassing for entering the batture property. You'll also be liable for any damages (like cutting trees).

It's really simple. Unless you own the property, or have been granted access to it by the owner, stay off of it --- or be prepared to suffer some consequences.