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State officials review Louisiana Watershed Initiative progress: models, buyouts and the Mermentau basin project
Summary
State Office of Community Development reported publication of statewide watershed models, progress on a $25 million Mermentau Basin inundation project, and results from a statewide voluntary buyout program funded through the Louisiana Watershed Initiative.
The Louisiana Office of Community Development (OCD) told the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority Board that the Louisiana Watershed Initiative (LWI) has produced statewide hydrologic and hydraulic models, advanced a multi‑parish Mermentau Basin inundation relief project, and delivered buyout results from several priority neighborhoods.
OCD Director of Economic Development and Infrastructure Mikayla Connor said the LWI—launched after the 2016 floods—received approximately $1.2 billion for mitigation planning and projects. The program budget allocated $130 million for regional watershed models, $15 million for additional gauges and data collection, $7 million for capacity building grants and nearly $1 billion for mitigation projects. Connor said the modeling work (managed by DOTD) produced 47 HUC‑8 models across seven modeling regions using HEC‑HMS and HEC‑RAS and that the outputs (flood depths, velocities, historic hindcasts and consequence modeling) are now publicly available through a Water Institute environmental data and model catalog.
Mermentau Basin Inundation Relief Project: Connor highlighted the Cameron Parish‑led Mermentau Basin Inundation Relief Project as a multi‑parish effort to reduce prolonged inundation in the Lower Mermentau Basin and to divert floodwaters into marshes to provide sediment and nutrients. The $25 million project has three major contracts: East End locks upgrades (MNC Oilfield Services, $10.9 million; gates expected January 2026; project completion expected March 2026), four water‑control structures (MNC Oilfield Services, $9.4 million; three structures complete and the fourth in final stages) and channel improvements (L and R Construction, $657,000; channel work and lateral cleanouts under way). Connor said the project benefits five parishes and protects residences, businesses and Highway 82 evacuation routes.
Buyout program and participation: Connor reviewed the statewide buyout program (voluntary) funded under LWI priorities. The program budget is $87 million across seven buyout locations. By the numbers, OCD invited 715 homeowners to participate; 307 properties are purchased and 61 are in progress—yielding a 51% participation rate so far. Average award across all buyout areas is about $134,000. Examples provided: Vermilion Parish’s Victoria Acres (49 invited, 40 purchased; participation 82%) and Lake Charles Greenwich Terrace (215 invited, 137 purchased, 16 in progress; participation 71%). Connor said buyout parcels must be maintained by the parish and cannot be redeveloped; they may be used as open space or for flood‑risk reduction.
Modeling and tools for decision making: OCD emphasized that the LWI modeling outputs include design‑storm runs (10‑ to 500‑year events), consequence modeling that estimates structure damage, and surveyed structure inventories. Connor said the tools are intended to support local and regional planning, inform design and better align investments. OCD staff also said they will compare LWI outputs to FEMA effective maps (a formal comparison work order is underway) and continue training local governments on using the models.
Board response and next steps: Board members thanked OCD for the coordination and data products. Connor said the next steps are regional plan development, continuing local training, rolling out a map viewer for nontechnical users and making the modeling catalog searchable and publicly accessible for download and collaboration.
