Terrebonne advisory committee hears construction funding approval, $775,000 CPRA grant and local permit approvals

A Terrebonne Parish coastal restoration advisory committee on May 6 reviewed recent project approvals and grant notices and approved two local permit recommendations by voice vote.

The committee’s staff report summarized decisions at the state technical committee and other recent developments. Jeff (staff member) said the technical committee recommended authorizing TE117, the Island Road Marsh Creation and Nourishment project, and that TE156 — listed in the report as the Bayou Racracy Marsh Creation Ridge Restoration project — received construction funding and will be ratified by the task force at its May 8 meeting. Jeff said, “Finally got the money, and they’re gonna ratify it at the task force meeting on May 8.”

Why it matters: the committee’s updates cover projects that move from planning into engineering or construction, a stage that typically means on-the-ground work and local contractor engagement will follow.

Key project and funding updates

- TE156 (Bayou Racracy Marsh Creation Ridge Restoration): Jeff reported the project “did get approved for construction funding at the technical committee meeting” and that the task force will ratify that approval on May 8.

- TE117 (Island Road Marsh Creation and Nourishment): Technical committee recommendation to authorize TE117 was noted in the staff report; the meeting record shows the technical committee recommended authorization.

- Bayou Terrebonne freshwater diversion project and Pump Station improvements: Jeff said representatives from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation toured the Bayou Terrebonne freshwater diversion work, including upgrades at Pump Station D3 (Upper Montague) and D69 (Pointe Au Chien), and that NFWF staff were “very happy” with the operating parameters provided.

- NFWF pre-application for Carencro Bayou diversion: The parish submitted a pre-application to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for engineering design and permitting for a Carencro Bayou diversion project. Jeff said a decision on the pre-application will come in June; if approved, the full application would be due July 17.

- CPRA parish matching grant: Jeff said the parish received notice of a CPRA fiscal-year-2025 parish matching grant award in the amount of $775,000 to assist Ducks Unlimited with engineering and permitting for the BayRocacy phase 1 terracing project. He added the parish had not yet signed the intergovernmental agreement (IGA).

- Other project notes: Jeff discussed the West Jean Charles Marsh Creation Project (identified as advancing to further evaluation), TE165 (under construction but paused for nesting season with work to resume in September), Raccoon Island (currently in engineering and design), and TE181 (efforts to identify land-bridge alignment in the eastern parish). He also said Pat(ric)k Williams of NOAA Fisheries, an advocate for Terrebonne projects, has taken early retirement; Williams had been leading some federal partnership work.

Local permits, fees and administrative items

Committee business included two permit determinations presented by staff as "no direct significant impact" (NDSI): one for a 570-foot bulkhead along an unnamed bayou for property owners Jerome and Donna Walker, and one for four pilings at a private camp (M and J Property) in an upland urban area. The committee approved the staff recommendations by voice vote; the transcript records “Aye” and “Any opposed? Passes” but does not record a roll-call tally.

Jeff also reported statistics for local permitting in April: the committee packet summarized seven CIC permits for the month (three state permits and four local), and annual permit fee collections at about $24,000 year-to-date. The packet noted two permit extensions were treated as administrative (no additional fee), and a line in the staff summary showed ten permits collected totaling $1,700 in that reporting line; the staff presentation did not further break down every figure in the meeting record.

Public comment and calendar items

A public commenter (identified in the record as Miss Connor) asked about Alma Street and Georgia Charles Road flooding; committee members replied the committee has no direct role in that state-managed road work. Jeff listed upcoming meetings and events, including the task force ratification on May 8, CPRA meetings (April/May dates noted), the State of the Coast conference in New Orleans, and the Louisiana Watershed Initiative Region 6 meeting May 29 in Pierre Part.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of minutes from prior meeting — approved by voice vote; mover/second not individually recorded in the transcript. - Permit determination, Jerome and Donna Walker (570-foot bulkhead, NDSI) — staff recommendation approved by voice vote; outcome recorded as "passes." - Permit determination, M and J Property (install four pilings, NDSI) — staff recommendation approved by voice vote; outcome recorded as "passes."

The committee scheduled its next meeting for Tuesday, June 3 at 5 p.m. and adjourned by voice vote.

Ending: Committee members and staff emphasized ongoing fundraising and partner engagement will determine which projects move to construction and stressed several projects remain in engineering, design or monitoring phases.