Corps closer to new Gulf route

St. Mary Parish councilmen agreed to accept a draft “of no significant impact” and an environmental assessment from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a shorter, safer boat route to and from the Gulf of Mexico.

The move will allow the corps to designate Crewboat Cut as a federally-maintained navigation channel through the reach known as Horseshow Bend/Crewboat Cut, the Atchafalaya River and bayous Chene, Bouef and Black navigation channel.

According to Col. Michael Wehr, district commander of the corps, boat traffic will be allowed to navigate a shorter, safer trek to and from the Gulf from St. Mary Parish’s shore.

Wehr said the project will also allow stone embankments to be erected as needed, and will allow the corps to dispose of dredged spoil. The material should ultimately help slow erosion along the parish’s coast, he noted.

In other business, parish Chief Administrative Officer Henry “Bo” Lagrange told the council that the Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation is soliciting grant proposals to preserve the state’s unique prehistoric and historic cultural resources.

LaGrange said typical projects include public education proposals, survey projects in which every building over 50 years old in a given geographic region is recorded and mapped, publications, projects to develop nominations to the National Register of Historic Places.

Funds are matched by non-federal monies on at least a 50/50 basis, though grantees may elect to overmatch, LaGrange said. The match cannot be with any federal money.