Jockeying for position continues with area recreation
August 23, 2017
AN HISTORIC DECISION
August 24, 2017
Dear readers,
As your Louisiana State Representative for 12 years, I was a member of the House Natural Resources and Environment Committee and served as the Chairman for 8 years. This committee has oversight of Louisiana’s natural resources, coastal restoration, hurricane protection, wildlife and fisheries as well as the Department of Environmental Quality and the Commissioner of Conservation. I also represented the House of Representatives on the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA).
With that being said, please BEWARE OF THE ACCURACY of INUNDATION MAPS and STUDIES about Terrebonne Parish prepared by universities, environmental organizations, and other entities. A great deal of their data comes from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) and US National Weather Service. As Federal agencies, they DO NOT TAKE into account in their calculations and models for non-Federal built projects such as the Morganza to the Gulf Levee System (which is authorized by Congress). This system is comprised of 49 miles of levees including 13 floodgates and numerous water control structures. This SYSTEM DOES NOT exist in their inundation maps, calculations, nor do our 60 miles of redundant levees. All this does not exist, calculation-wise, because they were not built by the Corps of Engineers and certified by the Corps. Morganza, however, was constructed by the Terrebonne Parish Levee Board, funded by the people of Terrebonne and State of Louisiana, and permitted by the Corps of Engineers and built to Corps standards, at a cost of approximately $400 million.
Remember, Morganza to the Gulf is completing its first phase in the southern part of Terrebonne and will begin construction moving north where vegetation becomes more abundant. The Falgout Canal Floodgate in Dularge, which is a $35 million project fully funded by Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government (TPCG), Terrebonne Levee Board and the State of Louisiana is starting construction.
In the near future, the southern part of Terrebonne Parish will be further protected by lock systems. Already under engineering and funded by the CPRA is the $380 million saltwater intrusion, freshwater diversion lock on the HNC, which will be incorporated onto operation of the existing Bubba Dove floodgate system. Construction is slated to begin in 2019. Also, engineering funded by Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government is underway for a lock system in Petit Caillou at Boudreaux Canal, and Bayou Terrebonne at Montegut. In addition, TPCG has begun engineering for a conveyance channel and pump station in Chauvin to control the water level in Bayou Petite Caillou to the upper Petite Caillou floodgate by the Thompson Road extension.
These lock systems will hold back abnormally high tides and allow marine vessels to come and go. The lock systems will also allow vessels from Houma, Montegut, Chauvin, Dulac, and Dularge to travel south outside the levee system at any tide level at any time.
Terrebonne Parish will remain viable and we are winning the battle of hurricane protection with these projects but also with the various Barrier Islands, mitigation, and Coastal Restoration projects currently underway. Many coastal communities from Mississippi, Alabama and Florida and the East Coast DO NOT HAVE THE LEVEL OF PROTECTION WE HAVE in Terrebonne Parish. We have all worked, lived, fished, hunted and raised our families in Terrebonne. This government and the resilient people of Terrebonne will do everything possible to preserve our way of life, but are always mindful of the threat of hurricanes. Life is too precious and, when necessary, we must get out of harm’s way. By no means can anyone say that any levee system will not be topped or breached. However, we have the Morganza levee system with floodgates as well as a redundant levee system in Terrebonne that is very effective.
Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, the State Legislative Delegation, and the Terrebonne Levee Board are committed to the preservation and protection of Terrebonne Parish and its residents. The numerous projects constructed or under construction are definite proof that Terrebonne Parish (The “Good Earth”) and its people ARE HERE TO STAY!
Respectfully,
Gordon E. Dove
Parish President
Louisiana State Representative, 2004 – 2015 •
