December 9, 2022
Morganza Minute
News from the Morganza Action Coalition
|
|
|
Corps Breaks Ground on
New Humble Canal Floodgate
|
|
Project marks first federal investment in the
Morganza to the Gulf levee system.
|
|
Montegut, LA – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and federal, state and local officials celebrated the start of construction for a new Humble Canal Floodgate today, marking the first segment of the critical 98-mile Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Risk Reduction System to be built with federal dollars.
The Corps is funding the Humble Canal preload project with $12 million from New Start funding approved by the federal government in January 2020. Local company Onshore Materials, LLC has been awarded a $6.2 million contract for this preload phase, which includes site preparation and construction of aprons to tie existing levees to the new Humble Canal Floodgate slated for construction next.
|
|
"The $12.5 million Humble Canal Gate Site Preparation and Initial Levee Preload is the first federal construction feature of the Morganza to the Gulf Project, and it is certainly not the last," said Col. Cullen Jones, Commander, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District (pictured above).
“Earlier this year, the Administration and Congress made an even greater commitment to increasing the federal role by including nearly $380 million in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law specifically for construction of Morganza to the Gulf. We are working to move these funds into construction, which will include levee reaches and floodgates, such as the one on Humble Canal. This a priority project and the Corps will leverage all the capabilities needed to deliver on Congress and the Administration’s commitment to the people of south Louisiana," Col. Jones said.
|
|
"Today represents the first federal money coming in to strengthen protection for Morganza to the Gulf, a highly successful project that's going to protect hundreds of thousands of people here in south Louisiana who deserve that protection and all of the energy infrastructure that benefits the entire country and our allies around the world," said Republican Whip Steve Scalise.
|
|
“People living in and around Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes are another step closer to having the protection they deserve against major storms, and it’s critical that the work doesn’t stop here,” said Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) Chairman Chip Kline. “The progress being made on Morganza to the Gulf is the result of the commitments made by the federal, state and local partners who understand the urgency of completing this project. Once complete, the Morganza system will become the model for risk reduction, restoration, and resiliency for coastal communities across the nation.”
"This is a historic day for our coastal region. After nearly $1 billion in local and state funds invested in Morganza, and thirty years of local and state efforts to secure federal investment in this regional levee system for Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes, we are excited to now have the Corps as a funding partner," said Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District Executive Director Reggie Dupre. "The Corps' investment in the Humble Canal Floodgate and over $380 million for other segments is crucial to completing the Morganza to the Gulf system and providing the flood protection our 200,000 residents and businesses need and deserve."
|
|
Other Morganza Segments to be Funded by the Corps |
|
The Humble Canal Floodgate Preload project is the first of several elements of the Morganza to the Gulf system that the Corps will design and construct with nearly $400 million in federal appropriations approved 2020 - 2022, including $380 million from the bipartisan Infrastructure and Jobs Act.
- Reach A in Terrebonne Parish
- Lockport to Larose Alignment
- Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Floodgate in Larose
- Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Floodgate in Houma
- Minors Canal Floodgate
- Humble Canal Floodgate
- Reach F
- Reach J-2
- Shell Canal Floodgate
|
|
MAC Hosts Corps Brass for Morganza Tours |
|
The Morganza Action Coalition co-hosted leaders from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the White House Office of Management and Budget this year for tours of the Morganza to the Gulf project area and meetings with levee officials.
-
January 18, Lt. General Scott Spellman, Chief Engineer, USACE Headquarters, met with MtG partners for the signing of the Project Partnership Agreement.
-
April 21, Michael Conor, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works and Major General William (Butch) Graham, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, met with MtG partners for a project presentation, discussion and fly-over.
-
August 26, MAC and Terrebonne and North Lafourche levee districts co-presented on the need to fund and complete MtG at the Corps' annual Mississippi River Commission public meeting.
-
August 31, MAC hosted Maj. Gen. Graham, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army (Management and Budget) Stacey Brown, and Associate Director for Climate, Energy, Environment and Science Candace Vahlsing from the Office of Management and Budget at the White House for a presentation and fly-over. (PICTURED ABOVE)
-
September 7, Colonel Stephen Murphy introduced the new Commander of the Corps' New Orleans District Colonel Cullen Jones to MtG partners at a meeting in Houma, with a presentation and flyover.
|
|
MAC's Membership is Growing! |
|
Morganza Action Coalition is working to grow our membership and provide the opportunity for companies working in Lafourche and Terrebonne to support our efforts to achieve effective hurricane protection for our region!
MAC hosted a successful outreach luncheon in Houston in early November with 48 attendees and we are planning a luncheon in the Bayou Region in January. MAC would like to thank our friend Ronnie Murphy of United Vision Logistics for hosting us at the Houston luncheon.
Executive Director Henri Boulet also presented to LOOP officials and their contractors at LOOP's Annual Safety Seminar, and to members of Bayou Industrial Group at the organization's November luncheon.
Welcome to our newest members: Beacon Offshore, Chet Morrison Contractors, Chevron, Danos, Hess, REV, Shell, Woodside Energy, and MANY MORE!
Membership contributions fund MAC's advocacy work in Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. to advance the construction and completion of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Risk Reduction Project.
|
|
State and Federal Updates |
|
• LA Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority will host public meetings in January 2023 on the draft FY2024 Annual Plan. MAC encourages Terrebonne and Lafourche residents and business owners to attend to convey your support for continued state investment in the Morganza to the Gulf system and other local coastal protection and restoration projects.
• GOMESA - A companion bill to U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy's RISEE Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to improve the structure for revenue-sharing from offshore energy and increase revenue for coastal protection and restoration in coastal states like Louisiana. MAC is encouraged by what both bills could offer and will be monitoring the legislation as it moves through Congress and possibly a conference committee.
• GOMESA - MAC participated in a a GOMESA Revenue-Sharing Support Fly-in for Congressional members in June.
|
|
For more information, contact Henri Boulet, Executive Director,
|
|
Formed in 2006, the Morganza Action Coalition is a 501(c)(4) organization which was established to support the efforts of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District and the North Lafourche Conservation, Levee and Drainage District. With the support of our members, MAC is the voice for our local community as we push for Terrebonne and Lafourche flood protection that is critical to our survival and that will help us continue to feed and fuel this entire nation.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
