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Council awards vegetation‑maintenance contract and discusses aquatic‑weed strategy, Project Cynthia pilot
Summary
The parish awarded a vegetation‑maintenance RFP to Kim Spray South Inc. and spent an extended portion of the meeting discussing aquatic lily removal, prioritization of navigational channels, cost per unit for AquaSpray, and a local pilot called Project Cynthia to collect and process removed lily biomass.
The Terrebonne Parish council and committees on Feb. 24 awarded the vegetation‑maintenance contract (RFP24‑VEG‑422025) for the public‑works drainage division to Kim Spray South Inc. The award passed by unanimous committee vote.
Council members used the discussion period to press staff on tactical and cost details for aquatic weed control. Councilman Carl Harding asked whether the AquaSpray line item — listed at $130 per unit in the contract backup — is an add‑on or part of the base contract. Parish staff said the $130 figure is an a‑la‑carte price and that spraying will be used “as needed” in targeted hotspots such as Gibson and Bayou Black. Staff noted the parish’s vegetation contract is approximately $1,700,000 for maintenance and said some waterways are the state’s responsibility; Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries typically maintains state water bottoms such as Bayou Black and Bayou Terrebonne, though the parish can and will support those efforts.
Council members and staff discussed prioritization for navigational channels. Staff said the parish has been coordinating with Wildlife and Fisheries to target high‑traffic navigational channels earlier in the year to avoid spraying when plants are already in bloom and less susceptible to treatment. Staff also said the parish will target feeder canals and rights‑of‑way to reduce the influx of lilies into main channels.
A speaker identified as a representative for Project Cynthia said the project wrapped up a pilot in 2024 and will focus initial operations on Bayou Black, with plans for remote collection sites and a processing plant to dry and process biomass in Bayou Bialik. The project representative said timelines are driven by the project’s private funding and are still being finalized.
Council members asked for contact information for Wildlife and Fisheries and for the Project Cynthia representative so they could coordinate on prioritizing navigational channels. Multiple council members urged earlier seasonal spraying and feeder‑canal treatment to prevent lilies from reaching main channels. The vegetation contract award was moved by Councilman John Amity and seconded by Councilman Danny Babin; the motion passed unanimously.
Next steps: staff will coordinate with Wildlife and Fisheries, refine priority maps for navigation, and provide contact information and timelines for Project Cynthia and planned spray operations.
