High tides could mean goodbye for coastal residents

Morganza to the Gulf is meant to protect the coastal communities along the southern tip of Louisiana. Unfortunately, some of those who were hoping for security are being left outside its borders.

One of those communities is lower Dularge, home to a number of natives who have found themselves entangled in the fishing industry for most of their lifetime.

“Lower Dularge is probably one of the most cohesive fishing communities left, especially for oystermen,” explained Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District executive director Reggie Dupre. “It’s local families.”

Another, Isle de Jean Charles, will also be left outside levee protection borders. Also hosting a majority of natives, mostly Indians, the small islands fate is unknown.

“Those two are the communities, the historic coastal communities in Terrebonne, which have created the most heartburn for me. It’s very sad to see that decision was made,” said Dupre.

Drawing the boundaries for Morganza dates back to the early ’90s. More than 80 percent of its lines are laid along natural features like ridges, barriers and highways.

“By and large, Morganza was just putting the pieces of a puzzle together, taking different planes and ridges and putting them together where it makes the most logical sense,” added Dupre.

That approach allowed the South Terrebonne Levee District, the precursor to the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District, to geographically protect the largest amount of people and meet federal government standards. Multiple state and federal partners were involved in the process.

After lengthy discussions, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers determined that Isle de Jean Charles would not meet the cost-to-benefit ratio in building a levee system that encircles the island, according to Dupre. Poor soil conditions would have also limited the amount of work that could have been done.

“That part of the parish probably has the worst soil conditions of anywhere else in south Louisiana,” he explained. Over the years, officials have struggled to keep roads connecting the island and mainland above water.

Pointe-aux-Chenes Marina and Cocodrie – including the last 4.5-mile stretch of Highway 56 – will also become outsiders once levee construction is complete. But protecting maritime industries and businesses, like marinas and fishing camps, is costly.

“It’s very expensive,” touted Dupre. “To protect Pointe-aux-Chenes Marina, it would be an astronomical cost.”

About 95 percent of Cocodrie is campsites, he added.

Similar developments at the end of Four Point Road in Dulac are also excluded.

But for the citizens of lower Dularge, help is arriving in local fashion, as government officials have teamed with the levee board to improve existing drainage levees.

“They do have some protection and we intend on continuing working with the Parish to provide them with better protection,” said Dupre.

Eventually, the parishes levee system could become part of Morganza, said Mitchell Marmande, a project manager for T. Baker Smith that oversees portions of Morganza to the Gulf.

Parish officials also built a ring levee around Isle de Jean Charles.

While the structure will not protect the island from tidal surges caused by hurricanes, it will provide resistance against normal tidal waters and improve drainage, explained Dupre.

“The fact of the matter is some parts are going to be in, some parts are going to be out,” said Marmande. “That’s not a local levee district decision.”