Mermentau River Watershed Coalition

The steering committees for Regions 1 and 5 met July 14 and 16, respectively, to discuss regional flood risk in preparation for long-term planning and project decision-making, as the state prepares to spend $1.2 billion in federal funds on local and regional flood mitigation projects. The interactive flood risk presentations are available here (Region 1) and here (Region 5). The meeting recordings are available here  (Region 1) and here  (Region 5). Additional resources related to the flood risk discussions are on the

The Louisiana Watershed Initiative is hosting a webinar 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26 to provide updates on the program. The webinar will address the Round 1 project funding opportunity, statewide river and rain gauge network, proactive flood defense modeling program, regional capacity building program and more. Register for the Spring Webinar

Just this morning, Coby Sammis with Congressman Clay Higgins’ office provided us with the Congressional Letters of Support for the Rockefeller Freshwater project which will assist in reducing the Lower Mermentau water levels (known by the CWPPRA project number ME-03).  This is the project that Scooter Trosclair described for us all on February 19 in Jennings.  While reading, notice that flood risk reduction for upstream residents is not addressed as a potential benefit.  Public dollars

Next week, the LWI will be holding a Council on Watershed Management meeting in Baton Rouge.  The meeting will take place on Thursday, August 8th from 1:30 to 3:00 pm at The Louisiana State Capital Building (900 North 3rd St., Baton Rouge, LA) in House Committee Room 5.  I urge anyone with time and interest to attend.  Ms Carolyn Lesieur with the LWI has offered the following general agenda (I will upload the formal agenda once it

As we have continued our tour of the Mermentau Watershed, there are common themes which have arisen.  The communities of Lake Arthur and Grand Chenier, LA are perhaps the most vulnerable in the lower watershed region, as their geographic locations place them directly in, or hydraulically connected to, the lower Mermentau Basin (which includes White Lake and Grand Lake).  There is a belief, right or wrong, that the US Army Corps of Engineer’s operation of

The LWI will be in Abbeville on May 20th to continue their outreach with Cameron and Vermilion Parishes.  The meeting is at 1pm and will take place at the LSU Ag Center Building at 1105 West Port St, Abbeville, LA.  See the agenda below.  Most of you have seen these topics before.  However this will be our first meeting in the Coastal Parishes and i urge you to attend and take part.