Marsh repairs near Catfish Lake, ring levee set to begin

Work to restore the marsh between Catfish Lake and the base of the South Lafourche ring levee will soon get under way.

The repairs, a joint project between the parish and the South Lafourche Levee District, are expected to re-create approximately 50 acres of lost marsh, according to District General Mmanager Windell Curole.

Curole outlined the scope of the work at last week’s levee district meeting.

The 50-acre tract is reportedly the most damaged portion of the surrounding 175 acres. With little marsh surrounding the levee, open water is now lapping at the base of the structure, Curole explained.

The stretch near Catfish Lake is the most vulnerable.

“This work will allow crucial marsh to be restored in an important place on the outside of the levee,” he said.

The levee board accepted a $2.1 million low bid for the job, Curole said. It will be paid for with Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) funding.

“This project has been on the books and the monies allocated for over two years, but the federal government has been slow to disburse (funds),” Curole told the levee board.

To ensure the bid price, the levee board agreed last Monday to pay the project cost and await reimbursement.

“If the federal money does not come in the time frame expected, this will allow the project to get started,” he said.

Work should be completed within 180 days of its start date.

Curole said bids are being sought to restore an additional 50 acres of marsh northwest of Little Lake.

The restoration project will extend between Clovelly Canal and an old pipeline canal on the east side of Bayou Lafourche.

Bids will be opened Nov. 23 and the project should begin in February 2010, according to Curole.

CIAP funding will also pay for this project, he said.