Mansey R. Billiot
June 21, 2011
Eugene Valentine Sr.
June 23, 2011
Terrebonne Parish officials surveyed results Thursday as they announced that a waterway improvement project had resulted in the removal of 41 derelict vessels from Bayou Grand Caillou and Bayou Dulac in 45 days.
‘We are in good shape, Terrebonne Parish President Michel Claudet said at the completion of a first of multiple cleanup phases. ‘We’ve made some tremendous strides with derelict vessels in the lower parts of the parish. We are going to have another phase coming through shortly, and will pick up some on other bayous.
Claudet said there were some final touches of clearing debris on Bayou Grand Caillou, but overall was pleased with the work that had been performed. ‘Our goal is to pick up all the vessels on the bayous and we think we can do it.
Terrebonne Parish has allocated more than $1 million from Community Development Block Grants to remove derelict vessels that had been abandoned and sunk over multiple decades in area waterways.
The project is administered through the Office of Community Development Disaster Recovery Unit and based off damage resulting from hurricanes Gustav and Ike in 2008. Vessels pose a danger of moving into the navigable channel and possibly causing damage to other property or dangerous conditions for boaters. Work on the first cleanup phase was contracted to Lawson Environmental Services of Bourg.
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol and parish administrators are working to discourage vessel abandonment by charging the cost of removal to owners. The parish had worked with the U.S. Coast Guard in the past to remove 65 storm damaged and abandoned vessels.
A second cleanup phase will include Bayou Petit Caillou, Bayou Terrebonne, Bayou Dularge and Pointe Aux Chenes.
The removal of this and 40 other derelict vessels in Bayou Grand Caillou and Bayou Dulac marks completion of the first phase of waterway restoration in Terrebonne Parish. COURTESY PHOTO
