Bush Canal floodgate dedicated for Willis J. Henry

“Do I get to keep the scissors?” Juliet Henry asked with a laugh after she and Gov. Bobby Jindal cut a large red ribbon during dedication ceremonies at the Willis J. Henry Bush Canal Floodgate.

The afternoon ceremony, which took place last Tuesday at the convergence of the Bush Canal and Bayou Terrebonne, attracted a crowd more than double the size of the 50 participants expected to witness state and local dignitaries mark completion of the first Terrebonne Parish floodgate constructed in 17 years.

With a price tag of $14.9 million, the project was noted as having been completed without federal funds, a detail members of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District hope will in time result in reimbursement. It is 56 feet in width and rises 18 feet above sea level. This structure represents a $15 million component to the overall Morganza-to-the-Gulf project.

Ceremonies were highlighted with the naming of the floodgate in memory of former Terrebonne Parish Police Jury and Parish Councilman, Choteau Volunteer Fire Department member, and Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Vice President Willis J. Henry.

Remembered as a public servant and major contributor to the construction of the Bush Canal Floodgate, Henry, who died in February, was represented by his wife, Juliet, their children, grandchildren, friends and acquaintances.

“I’m just thrilled to see this,” Juliet Henry said as she and her family stood on top of the floodgate structure. “I’m sorry Willis isn’t here to see it. It was his life in the last few years. He was determined to save Terrebonne Parish by getting this levee and floodgate.”

“For all of us this is his legacy,” David Henry said of his father as his voice trembled with emotion. “It is one he was proud to serve and protect. It’s very special.”

During his presentation, Jindal told those in attendance about his being in Lafourche Parish the previous week to announce an $11 million coastal restoration funding package and tied it to an $8 million state commitment for eastern sections of the Morganza system to connect with the Larose to Golden Meadow levee construction project.

“Today, we are proud to highlight a landmark in our efforts to protect this region from storm surge,” Jindal said. “Back in the 1980s’ the levee district, the parish and the [U.S. Army] Corps of Engineers began evaluating the need to provide hurricane protection in this region. The completion of the Bush Canal floodgate is another sign of the incredible progress we have made to do what it takes to protect our communities.”

Jindal said that a state and parish partnership has contributed to advancements in storm protection in Terrebonne Parish. “This is one example of the many projects we are completing along our coast that is providing protection for our people. Today is a great day [and] a sign of the progress we are making but our work is not done yet.”

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Col. Ed Fleming, who earlier in the day had spoken to members of the South Central Industrial Association about leadership in addition to levee projects, continued that message during the floodgate dedication ceremony.

Fleming said that Willis Henry was a man of great character and that the completion of this floodgate demonstrates the leadership qualities of which he spoke earlier in the day.

“Generally at this point I kind of stand here at an event like this and make some comments about how the corps has participated in this project,” Fleming said. “But the federal government has not been able to get at the point in this project where we would like to be. In some ways it is not a good thing, but in other ways we’ve got to understand that there will be times where local officials and state officials have to take the bull by the horns and make a project come to fruition like they have here.”

Fleming said that he could only offer praise to the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District for making storm protection happen in the region. He also praised and thanked Juliet Henry for standing with her husband during his work and contributions to the storm protection project.

“This is the first of many structures in building an interim system for Morganza to the Gulf,” Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Executive Director Reggie Dupre said. “This was started after hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. The Willis J. Henry Bush Canal Floodgate along with the Placid Canal Floodgate, which is nearly complete and the 6.5 miles of new levees it connects to will significantly protect the communities of Chauvin, East Houma and the western side of Grand Caillou.”

Dupre said that this location was selected as a priority because the highest tidal surges during the hurricanes of 2005 and 2008 were at their highest levels in this area. “There was a 9.5 foot [above sea level] tidal surge in this area,” he said. “Just for Tropical Storm Lee [during Sept. 2-4 and while the structure was open] it made a difference of 3.5 feet [from the outside of the gate and the inside].”

“I hope the rest of the [planned levee and hurricane protection structures] get done soon,” Juliet Henry said. “I love living here and I want to stay living here. This is awesome to see this. I’m so proud of this.”

Juliet Henry, with her daughter, Melissa Desalvo, pause at the portrait of Willis Henry, after whom the Bush Canal floodgate was named during dedication ceremonies last Tuesday. MIKE NIXON