Terrebonne breach repair still under way

The 50- to 60-foot breach that opened up in the Montegut Marsh Management levee south of Montegut should be closed by the end of this week, said Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Executive Director Jerome Zeringue.

The 6-foot high levee, which is maintained by the state Department of Natural Resources, keeps saltwater out of the marsh in the Pointe-aux-Chenes State Wildlife Management Area, maintained by the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

Wildlife and Fisheries officials first noticed the break in the levee more than a month ago.

Levee Board and Wildlife and Fisheries workers have been setting rocks into the breach to plug the gap. The rocks will then be capped with dirt.

Since the breach is not accessible by car, the Levee Board rented a barge to reach the area.

Last week, the board allocated $35,000 to pay for fixing the breach, but Zeringue said more funds will be needed to close the gap. He said Scott Angelle, secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources, has committed $35,000 toward reimbursing the board.

The area of the Montegut Marsh Management levee where the break occurred is part of the proposed Morganza-to-the-Gulf hurricane-protection levee project, which – if funded – would pump federal dollars into building a new levee.

A levee protects the Montegut Marsh from total surges. Workers are trying to repair a breach in a section of the levee. * File photo