Sarah Smith
October 30, 2007November Dance
November 1, 2007
Spokespersons from state and local government agencies dealing with coastal preservation and hurricane protection issues discussed the funding of flood prevention projects at a meeting held Thursday night at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) complex in Cocodrie.
State Reps. Damon Baldone, Gordon Dove, and Carla Dartez; state Sen. Reggie Dupre, and Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District Executive Director Jerome Zeringue were among several panelists who heard reports from the various agencies.
Garrett Graves, legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), told the panel money for hurricane protection projects in Louisiana contained in the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) bill currently before President Bush may more than double the $3 billion figure cited by U.S. Rep. Richard Baker (R-Baton Rouge) in an Oct. 22 news release.
Sidney Coffee, chair of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, which was set up following hurricane Katrina, praised the WRDA bill.
She said the bill has $100 million for a science and technology program and money for flood-control demonstration projects. The bill also establishes a task force to evaluate and recommend coastal preservation projects.
Scott Angelle, secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources, touted the CPRA because the agency has drawn attention to hurricane protection levees as well as coastal preservation.
“The CPRA put into law what had been preached,” he said. “We created a state trust fund for coastal preservation, but none for hurricane protection. CPRA’s formation will be seen as a turning point.”
He said the Department of Natural Resources and the state Department of Transportation and Development, which oversees some levee operations in Louisiana, used to compete against each other for federal grants.
Now the two agencies cooperate, bringing together the “wetlands and the levee protection people,” Angelle said.
“Now is the time for us to be the generation that made a difference in coastal preservation,” he said.
Ed Preau, assistant secretary of the Department of Transportation and Development, said that one of the responsibilities of his office is to “make sure levees are in good condition.”
He indicated that during the last session of the state Legislature, the state allocated $10 million to the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project (the billion-dollar system of flood-control structures for south Louisiana contained in the WRDA bill), and $18 million for the Golden Meadow floodgate and elevating Louisiana Highway 1.
Dove pointed out Terrebonne Parish has 80 miles of non-federally-controlled levees (though none are of hurricane protection caliber).
“We’ve got money available,” he said. “Coastal preservation is happening.”
Graves said that the federal government is sending Louisiana $30 million for hurricane protection through one funding source. Another potential federal funding source for the state will have no caps placed on the amount, he noted.
Dupre trumpeted the $40 million the state has allocated toward constructing the Houma Navigation Canal Lock. Further funding will come from Morganza to the Gulf.
“It’s the anchor of the Morganza project,” he said, “a down payment on Morganza. It lets them know we’re serious about stopping tidal surges from going north.”
Nearly $2 million annually is being provided for the lock’s maintenance.
WRDA includes $90 million for hurricane protection in Lafourche parish, Dupre said.
South Lafourche Levee District General Manager Windell Curole joked that the Department of Natural Resources should locate to LUMCON.
“Flooding is inspirational when it’s at your back door,” he said.
Zeringue criticized a recent report advocating an alternative to the Morganza-to-the-Gulf project.
“Morganza has had over 15 years of analysis,” he said. “The alternatives have been considered and rejected by the Corps (of engineers).”
Zeringue said Terrebonne Parish has dedicated $107 million to the Morganza project from a 4-cent parish sales tax before any federal money is allocated.
“We’re not just going up with hat in hand,” he said.
The Greater Lafourche Port Commission and the Barataria Terrebonne National Estuary Program are working on a coastal ridge restoration project just north of Port Fourchon. The project is expected to restore more than 120 acres of forest ridge and marsh. * Photo courtesy of the BARATARIA TERREBONNE NATIONAL ESTUARY PROGRAM
