Officials to U.S. Corps: Use sediment for coastal restoration
October 18, 2006Opening this Friday, Oct. 27
October 22, 2006To live in Louisiana requires a delicate balance between residents and the wetlands. The balance was severely disrupted by two storm systems that will not be soon forgotten. State officials look to restore the balance, a process that will take years.
But the future does not look optimistic. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita wiped away South Louisiana’s Gulf Coast wetlands essential for future hurricane protection, wildlife to endure, and fueled an already speedy process of coast recession. Each year, more and more of Louisiana’s coastline disappears.
This poses a threat to life of those inhabiting south Terrebonne, Lafourche and surrounding parishes. Ironically, levees built in the past n built to protect n are actually encouraging the process.
A bitter cycle: build levees to keep water out and protect communities, which destroys wetlands due to lack of water flow, which destroys the natural hurricane barrier systems. Without hurricane protection, as more coastline and communities disappears and so the cycle continue. Why continue fighting the battle?
That is precisely the question South Lafourche Levee District, Louisiana Recovery Authority and other business officials hope to answer to visiting state senators and representatives during their parish visit Thursday.
“Our domestic energy production has stayed fairly stable while consumption has gone up.
We’ve had to meet that need with foreign oil. Now we are at 60 percent foreign oil to 40 percent domestic oil ratio. Many of us are familiar with [this ratio] but the reason why this real estate around Bayou Lafourche is so significant because this is one of only two corridors that has road access in all of coastal Louisiana,” explained Ted Falgout, executive director of Port Fourchon and chairman of the LA 1 Commission.
Making a stop for a working luncheon and presentation of the port facilities, Falgout hoped to convince officials that further hurricane protection and infrastructural improvements are needed to keep the port n a top oil supplier in the nation n open for business.
Port Fourchon encompasses unmatched oil importing management systems like Louisiana Offshore Oil Ports, south Lafourche Airport and pipeline stretching from the port up through the Midwest.
“We have become the major land support base for oil and gas activity in the Gulf of Mexico and without our post, oil companies will loose money,” said Falgout.
Port Fourchon also supplies the nations seafood industry housing commercial and sport fishing in Grand Isle.
According to Falgout, protection needs to be in place for the port to continue as well as sound infrastructure.
La. 1 is the main artery to and from the port; constant flooding around the Leeville Bridge suppresses business.
Currently 13,000 to 15,000 trucks traverse La. 1 daily, the continuing grind worsening the already its mediocre condition. On top of increased traffic flow, the roadway is sinking at a rate of 1 inch every 14 months. La. 1 sits just at 2 feet above the sea level.
Groundbreaking on construction for the new La. 1 occurred March of 2006 and funding is in place, but Henri Boulet, executive director of the LA 1 Commission says hard work is still to be done.
Boulet stressed the importance that the lower section be completed before 2011, before La. 1 does not exist.
“If that should happen, this country would face a great energy crisis. We saw how Hurricane Katrina effected prices, but I think it would become even worse if we get to that point,” said Boulet.
This four phase project, completion of Phase One is slated for 2009, with a $161 million price tag with be funded through federal and state grants.
Additional loans taken out will be paid off by an open tolling system of the average 6,000 to 7,000 daily motorists.
The next stop for officials was Morganza-to-the-Gulf, the only project currently underway to protect Port Fourchon, La. 1 and all the business the coastline produces.
As the one-cent sales tax proposal failed, so did the LRA and levee district official hopes of obtaining needed funds for the Houma Navigational Canal lock and tiered levee protection system.
With no backup plan, federal or state funding are the available options.
The Leon Theriot Floodgate n being converted into a working lock n in Golden Meadow provides an example of how the Houma Locke could regulate flooding, wetland destruction while directing boat traffic. South Lafourche Levee District General Manager Windell Curole gave official a first hand look.
“These locks also help preserve out wetlands. The only time we would need to close the gates would be in a hurricane or storm situation, so water can flow freely through the Intercostal Canal. If there is a storm, we are able to open the lock at last minute to let boats in, something that has not been possible in the past,” said Curole.
Andrea Carlson can be reached at (985) 876-3008 or andrea@tri-parishtimes.com
