Archive >> Central >> January/February 2007 >> Comite River Diversion Canal

29/Apr/2007

Federal Funds Critical to Canal Project

All it would take to undo much of the hard work, the success and the promise of a bright future for the new City of Central, according to Dietmar Rietschier, is a 10-15 inch rain in the Centerville-Gloucester, Miss., and East Feliciana Parish area tonight followed by a 10 to 15 inch rain in Central tomorrow.

"It has happened before, and it can happen again," warns Rietschier, Executive Director of the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District.

Rietschier said Central will be vulnerable to a really big rain event until the 12-mile-long Comite River Diversion Canal is completed.

Diversion Canal

"If it happens, the eastern side of East Baton Rouge Parish will experience serious flooding and people in Central will know very quickly why the diversion canal is such an important project," said Rietschier. "It is almost like a ticking time bomb. We must finish the canal on schedule, and the key to doing that is getting the funding on time so we do not have to stop work."

The original schedule called for completion of the Lily Bayou Control Structure in the spring of 2007. Thanks to Hurricane Katrina, however, the completion date of this first phase of the project has been shoved to the winter of 2008.

"Timing is critical," explained Rietschier. "We are buying the right of way as fast as we can, but the matching federal funding must be there when we need it. The federal funding is really the critical piece of the puzzle."

Control Structures

If everything goes according to plan, the project should be complete in six or seven years. When completed, the canal and its control structures will provide flood protection for residents of the Comite River Basin and portions of the Amite River Basin. This includes parts of East Baton Rouge, Livingston and Ascension Parishes.

Money for the $174 million project comes from four sources. The state is paying for the right of way, and that amounts to 15 percent of the total cost. The federal government is paying the construction cost, and that is 75 percent. The remaining 10 percent of the funding for the project comes from the Louisiana State Department of Transportation and Development (the state highway department). And finally, the Amite River Basin Commission's Local Taxing District collects a three-mil tax on property owners in the area that will benefit from the flood control project.

"Congressman Richard Baker has done a wonderful job of making sure we get our federal money each year," said Rietschier. "We all need to write and thank him and ask him to keep up the good work. We also need to write to our two senators and ask for their continued support for the project's federal funds."

Construction Dollars

The timing is tricky because the right-of-way acquisition (purchasing the land) must not be done so far in advance that the state's money is tied up for long periods while officials wait for construction funds from the federal government. The construction dollars must be in hand just as soon as the right-of-way is acquired.

β€œAll the members of our congressional delegation are more likely to help us if they know the people in Central and the whole area that will benefit from this flood control project understand the importance of completing the project without delay," explained Rietschier. "We need to write and thank our senators and representatives for their help so far. And we must ask them to please help us by doing what they can to keep the funding coming each year."

The actual project consists of a 12-mile long diversion channel from the Comite River to the Mississippi River. It is located between Baker and Zachary. The project consists of the following: a diversion structure; a control structure at Lilly Bayou; four drop structures; five highway bridges; two railroad bridges; three low flow augmentation pumps; improvements to Bayou Baton Rouge, White Bayou and Cypress Bayou; and provision for project mitigation areas.

Lilly Bayou

Anyone wishing to see what is going on can drive up Hwy. 61 toward St. Francisville and turn left at the Farro Chemical Plant. The Lilly Bayou Control Structure is about two miles down that road which right now consists of a huge 65-foot deep hole in the ground.

Those who want to contact members of the Louisiana State Congressional Delegation to urge them to keep up the good work of getting funding for the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District may do so by visiting the members' Web sites. All information including phone numbers, mailing addresses and e-mail are available on each member's site.