Terrebonne Pushes Forward on Rec, Roads and Pumps

Parish Prez Says Lafourche Has Bragging Rights
February 12, 2018
Do Council and Cantrelle have a chance?
February 14, 2018
Parish Prez Says Lafourche Has Bragging Rights
February 12, 2018
Do Council and Cantrelle have a chance?
February 14, 2018

Gordon Dove’s face lights up when he is asked about progress his parish has made, and he ticks off facts and figures in rapid succession.

“After taking office in 2016, with the economy on a downward spiral, the council and I have cut 23% off of every department and cut $10 million dollars from the budget I inherited without affecting any services that the government provides to our residents on a daily basis,” Dove said. “With these cuts, along with savings such as the $3 million on insurance and good budget management, we still are engineering and constructing and planning on more in the future.”


Fourteen new drainage pump stations at a cost of $37 million and a 4 million gallon per minute pump station in the Houma Navigational Canal at the Bubba Dove Floodgate are at the top of Dove’s list. The HNC site pumps to the outside of the protection system, Dove said, increasing the protection value.

On Petit Caillou Bayou a lock system with a conveyance channel and pump station protect Chauvin, and a lock system in Montegut currently under construction are among the features providing the parish with unprecedented flood protection.

The Falgout Canal floodgate is also a major component of the new alignment.


In particular, Dove is pleased with the design of the Petit Caillou system.

“It will allow the shrimp and crab boats and the recreational fishing vessels to get in and out no matter how high the tides are,” Dove said. “And we know that means a great deal for those industries.”

On Whiskey Island a restoration project is nearly complete, with 7 million of 10 million cubic yards of sand already pumped onto land once disappeared, with completion expected to close soon.


Roads and bridges, Dove said, continues a forward march. Either replaced, in construction or in the engineering phase are Brady Road, Falgout Canal and Mayfield bridge.

One of the more contentious projects — but one that Dove and other officials say is now experiencing a turnaround — is the Bayou Country Sports Complex, otherwise known as the “Field of Dreams.” Dove looks forward to completion of important components within enough time to allow soccer and baseball, with those parking lots and a concession stand ready to receive visitors soon.

“The soccer fields should be finished in July,” Dove said.


Looking forward, Dove has gathered recreation district representatives into a board that communicates to avoid duplication, and which will keep his administration better apprised of what is — and what is not being accomplished in all ends of the parish.

Last year Parish Councilman Darrin Guidry moved forward an oversight ordinance, taking up a task initially shouldered by Councilman John Navy. That means council members will also be taking a hard look at how recreation districts are functioning throughout the year.

The Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, meanwhile, continues its work of flood protection, maintaining levees, and supervising construction.


TLCD director Reggie Dupre says he expects the system farthest east to join Lafourche Parish’s protection system this year, decreasing the level of risk for both parishes.

As for Dove’s infrastructure and flood protection bona fides, the parish president says success so far makes him wonder what could have been possible had the parish not been in the midst of an economic downturn.