August 26, 2021
Morganza Minute
News from the Morganza Action Coalition
Congressman Scalise Tours Grand Bayou Floodgate, Announces $19 Million Funding Effort for Key Intracoastal Waterway Floodgate
Congressman Steve Scalise (pictured center) joined CPRA officials, local legislators, local levee district representatives and Morganza Action Coalition (MAC) leaders August 20 for a tour of the substantially complete Grand Bayou Floodgate on the eastern end of the Morganza to the Gulf (MTG) protection system in Lafourche Parish.
(read more below)

During the tour, Rep. Scalise also announced a $19 million appropriations measure for a critical MTG floodgate along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near Larose that he and Congressman Garret Graves have championed in the House.

"I recently secured $19.3 million in community project funding for the GIWW East Floodgate in the House Energy and Water bill. This exclusive construction funding opportunity dedicated to Morganza through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will help advance construction of this key component of the Morganza project, and if it is approved by the Senate and signed into law, it will follow the $12.46 million in Corps funding I helped secured for the project at the beginning of 2021," said Congressman Scalise. "It was great to visit the site and discuss the project with Bayou officials who are hard at work to get construction underway."
The LA Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) and MAC worked with Congressmen Scalise and Graves to secure funding for Morganza in the House through appropriations to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The funds are dedicated for the Corps' initial engineering and design of a floodgate on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway near Larose, along the eastern end of the Morganza levee system. The measure now awaits consideration in the U.S. Senate, which is expected to consider the appropriations as part of a broader funding bill this fall.

“A floodgate on the intracoastal canal tying in the Morganza program to the Lafourche Ridge is substantial because it forms part of the comprehensive approach we need to take in coastal Louisiana. We would be able to protect the entire region with the floodgate. This is an example of the years of continued attention that Congressmen Graves and Scalise have given to dealing with flood protection of South Louisiana," explains South Lafourche Levee District General Manager Windell Curole.
"We’ve worked with Rep. Scalise and state and local leaders to re-imagine this project, cutting its price tag by nearly two-thirds and pooling nearly $1 billion in state and local funding to supplement our federal efforts. These efforts are resulting in major strides – proving that we can provide the hurricane protection that folks in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes deserve.”
"I’m proud to have worked with Congressman Graves to secure these vital dollars and will continue fighting to ensure the Morganza project receives all the resources needed for its completion. This announcement is another step toward completing Morganza-to-the-Gulf and protecting the billions of dollars in economic activity transported through our state.”
USACE Chief Tours Morganza to the Gulf Project
Lt. General Scott Spellman, Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, got a birds-eye view of current levees and floodgates along the Morganza to the Gulf project during a tour of the area with directors of the Terrebonne and North Lafourche levee districts on August 18.
Senate-Approved Infrastructure Bill Could Mean a "Closed System" for Morganza with House Concurrence and USACE Prioritization of MTG
LA CPRA Chairman Chip Kline and representatives of the Morganza Action Coalition (MAC) are pushing for $676 million for the Morganza to the Gulf (MTG) levee, lock and floodgate system in the proposed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which passed the U.S. Senate on August 10.

Within the bill, over $16 billion is directed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, of which CPRA, MAC and the local levee districts would like the Corps to invest $676 million in the engineering, design and construction of seven high-priority levee segments and floodgates along the MTG alignment. This would effectively "close" the system to provide enhanced flood protection for 200,000 Terrebonne and Lafourche residents.

Focus now turns to the U.S. House as that chamber prepares to consider the infrastructure bill in the next few weeks.
CPRA, MAC and local levee district representatives met last month with
Bubba Gesser, Projects Director for U.S. Senator John Kennedy (pictured above),
to present the prioritized list of Morganza to the Gulf segments valued at $676 million that the state and local sponsors would like the USACE to construct.
MTG Priority Elements Identified for
$676 Million in Infrastructure Funding
  • Humble Canal Floodgate
  • Eastern Floodgate on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
  • Western Floodgate on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
  • Levee Reach A - Minors Canal to Marmande Ridge
  • Eastern Tie-In to South Lafourche Levee System
  • Minors Canal Floodgate
  • Levee Reaches F,L,I,H - additional lifts to raise levee height
Grand Bayou Floodgate is Complete
The Grand Bayou Floodgate, a key component of Morganza to the Gulf on the eastern end of the system in Lafourche Parish, is complete. MAC Executive Director Henri Boulet, Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Executive Director Reggie Dupre and South Lafourche Levee District General Manager Windell Curole visited the floodgate in July (pictured right.)

The floodgate and soon-to-be constructed Reach L levee connect the MTG system to the South Lafourche levee system in Cut Off. The South Lafourche Levee District managed the contract for construction of the Grand Bayou Floodgate and recently received bids to construct Reach L.

MAC thanks SLLD General Manager Windell Curole and the SLLD Board for their help with this project!
Humble Canal Floodgate to Go to Bid this Fall
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to advertise for bids by October 1 for the site preparation work in advance of construction of the Humble Canal Floodgate south of Montegut. The preload contract will be funded by $12.46 million allocated to the Morganza project through the USACE annual work plan earlier this year.

The $12 million for the Humble Canal pre-construction marks the first federal investment in construction of the levee system and follows the project's "New Start" designation approved by the federal government in January. This designation authorizes USACE to fund 65% of the remaining build-out of MTG through annual appropriations in the agency's work plan. The USACE and LA CPRA are currently drafting a partnership agreement which is expected to approve credits for a significant amount of the work the non-federal sponsors have completed/will be completing.
THANK YOU, MAC MEMBERS!
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Your membership contribution to MAC sustains our advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. and
Baton Rouge, and strengthens public outreach
and communication activities
to advance local levee protection.

Your contribution makes our call for support of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection System and other flood protection projects in our area even LOUDER!  
The Morganza Action Coalition is a 501(c)(4) corporation founded in 2006 by Terrebonne Parish residents and business leaders who recognize the importance of the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection System to the continued survivability, economic viability and growth of our region. Today, MAC advocates for comprehensive levee protection for Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.
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Morganza Action Coalition
Henri Boulet, Executive Director
985-258-1399
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