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St. Charles Parish breaks ground on $32 million Munce pump‑station project to add permanent pumping capacity
Summary
Parish officials said construction has begun on two permanent pump stations in the Munce community, a $32 million effort (including $10 million from CPRA) intended to increase drainage capacity and reduce recurring flooding; work is expected to take about 18 months.
St. Charles Parish officials said on Sept. 8 that construction has started on two permanent pump stations in the Munce community, a $32 million project intended to provide long-term drainage relief and increase local pumping capacity.
Parish President Jewell said the twin projects will provide permanent pumping capacity where temporary pumps had previously been used and that the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has contributed $10 million toward the work. Jewell said site work has begun: sheet‑pile installation at one station and clearing and grubbing at the other. "The project is expected to last approximately 18 months," he said.
The administration described the work as part of a broader drainage and hurricane-protection effort, tying new pumping capacity to storm-surge and flood-protection infrastructure along nearby levees. The parish noted the two pump stations are coordinated with other regional projects and that the combined investment in the area would exceed $100 million when other projects and hurricane protection work are included.
Parish officials attributed the ability to move forward in part to utility coordination: they thanked Entergy executives who worked with the parish to secure electric service and connections needed to operate the pumps (the pumps will be 350-horsepower units, parish staff said). Jewell said the partnership reduced the need for budget modifications and helped get the project through the bidding and preconstruction phases.
The parish detailed other infrastructure efforts ongoing or recently completed: the Little Branch shoreline protection project (about 13,000 linear feet protected along Lake Pontchartrain) and upgrades to the Bonnet Carré spillway water line (upsizing from 6 to 8 inches and replacing older piping with HDPE). Parish staff also noted ongoing lift-station upgrades to submersible systems, citing River Oaks as an example.
The parish said the pump-station project responds to repeated flooding events residents described in past storms. "Back when I was with the administration in 2012, hurricane Isaac...several homes flooded," the parish president said. Officials said the new pumps will help reduce prolonged inundation after high-rain events.
No council vote was required during the meeting for the construction work described; officials said permitting and construction contracts have proceeded through earlier procurement steps.
