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Public resistance to a proposed 2012 Coastal Master Plan, designed by the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, has prompted changes to include building a permanent floodgate on Bayou Chene and increasing marshland restoration activity in southeastern Terrebonne Parish. The original plan did not include these projects.
State Sen. Bret Allain (R-Jeanerette) praised the change and said he is anxious to see construction take place. “The time for studies and evaluation is over,” he said. “The project proved its merits when the stakes were highest, and it helped save homes and businesses in St. Mary, Assumption and Terrebonne parishes.”
St. Mary Levee District President Bill Hidalgo said the project is being fast-tracked to be shovel-ready once funds are available. “The district has retained an engineering team comprised of Shaw, Miller Engineers and T. Baker Smith to work on the project design.”
During May 2011, Morganza floodgates were opened on the Mississippi River to relieve rising waters that threatened Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Intentional flooding of the Atchafalaya Basin threatened homes and businesses in Morgan City and in western Terrebonne Parish. By placing a temporary barge structure in Bayou Chene, residents, property and wildlife were saved from the threat of backwater flooding.
Following that experience regional government officials began making their plea for the development of a permanent floodgate to be constructed on Bayou Chene.
Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Executive Director Reggie Dupre said approval for a permanent structure on Bayou Chene would prove to be a long term asset for the region. He also said changes to marshland development resulted from residents complaining that the original Coastal Master Plan focused on rebuilding uninhabited parts of western Terrebonne Parish while ignoring lost land in areas surrounding communities such as Cocodrie, Chauvin, Dulac and Dularge. The plan adjustments did not specify where marshland rebuilding would take place or when it might begin.
“By all appearances it looks like the Coastal Proteciton and Restoration Authority has reacted very positively to the public comments at the Houma meeting,” Dupre said. “I’m very pleased at the changes that were made from the original draft master plan.”
CPRA Executive Director Jerome Zeringue confirmed these changes had been made and noted this as being an example of public participating changing the direction of government.
Revisions to the Coastal Master Plan were delivered to the CPRA this week and, following review, will be forwarded to the state Legislature.
