Madonna Fitzgerald Gyer
February 22, 2010
Vandy boys, girls defeat Teurlings, advance to finals
February 24, 2010
The Terrebonne Parish Levee and Conservation District is about to dig into new ground.
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) Secretary Robert Barham signed an agreement with the levee district last Tuesday that will allow the district to begin work on a 5.1-mile section of Morganza to the Gulf known as “J-2.”
Unlike other levees included in the project, J-2 will run through large stretches of swampland and barely accessible land, making the build a difficult and lengthy one. It will run between Pointe-aux-Chenes and Montegut, 90 percent of which will fall in the Point-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area, which has become a major concern for LDWF officials, whose main objective is to provide sportsmen with access to areas that support hunting and fishing.
“This agreement has been in the negotiation phase for about two years,” said Reggie Dupre, executive director of Terrebonne’s levee district.
Officials submitted an application to the Department of Nature Resources and the Army’s Corps of Engineers about two years ago, but they were asked to retract the application until an agreement was reached with LDWF.
“J-2 is probably one of the most complex portions of Morganza to the Gulf, because of the terrain and the fact that there will be three water control structures in this 5-mile reach,” explained Dupre.
“It’s not your typical levee that just follows behind the interface line, between the wetlands and highlands, like most of your parish drainage levees,” he said.
Poor soil conditions and less-than-perfect terrain also will likely increase the price of the project, as dump trucks will be needed to haul in dirt during the first few phases.
“In this particular part of the parish, that’s why there’s been so much wetland loss and coastal erosion. It’s one of the most vulnerable areas,” said Dupre of the location.
But first, the district must get approval to start the project. “We’ve now come to terms on the agreement. The next step will be applying for permits, which we hope to get in the next three or four months,” noted the director.
By summer, Dupre hopes the district can make headway and begin seeking bids on a portion of J-2.
The initial levee height will be about 8 feet, which will make access to both sides of the structure a bit of a barrier. However, as part of the agreement, the levee district will have to purchase land to help provide sportsmen with access and “…replace a portion of habitat the levee alignment will impact,” explained Dupre.
A 113-acre parcel of land is being considered in the Montegut area, with a price tag of roughly $30,000. Dupre hopes to proceed with the purchase in March, pending board approval.
But even if the buy is a success, more land will have to be purchased, he noted.
Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Sec. Robert Barham (center) signs an agreement with the Terrebonne Levee Board which will allow the district to move forward on a portion of Morganza to the Gulf known as “J-2.” * Photo by MICHAEL DAVIS
