Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Coastal Restoration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advocates urge long‑distance sediment pipeline to rebuild coast; parish invited to Oct. 15 community meeting
Summary
A presenter described sedimentation in the Chacahoula/Chacalaya Basin and proposed a long‑distance sediment pipeline in a management plan to move basin sediment to coastal restoration sites; the presenter invited parish residents to a community meeting Oct. 15 and asked for multi‑parish support.
A coastal‑planning advocate briefed the Saint Martin Parish Public Works Committee on Sept. 16 about lost flood capacity in the Chacahoula/Chacalaya Basin and proposed directing basin sediment to coastal restoration sites using a long‑distance sediment pipeline.
The presenter said historic floodplain capacity has been lost to sedimentation and that the basin’s northern reaches are filling with sediment, reducing the basin’s ability to hold floodwaters. He argued this increases flood risk for communities upriver and recommended moving sediment to the coast where it can rebuild marshes and buffer storm surge.
"We're proposing a long distance sediment pipeline in our management plan, and we think it's worth the investment," the presenter said, adding that such an approach would be a one‑time investment that could deliver benefits for decades. He described modeling and mapping that show large portions of the basin have lost flood capacity and urged parish engagement in a four‑year process tied to the state’s next coastal master plan.
Why it matters: The basin historically absorbed floodwaters; with sediment fill that capacity has declined, potentially increasing flood risk for communities. Parish officials asked technical questions about dredging feasibility, cost, and how to move sediment out of the basin and toward coastal restoration sites.
Next steps: The presenter invited parish residents to a community meeting Oct. 15, said management plans and project information are on a website and Facebook page, and asked parishes to coordinate support. Committee members discussed modeling and potential projects at future meetings.
