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GIS Engineering briefs council on dredging, pump stations and an 80 MW Homer plant rebuild
Summary
GIS Engineering presented updates on Bayou Terrebonne dredging (award to Currault Co., work expected to begin in July), Homer power plant demolition and rebuild as an 80 MW natural‑gas facility, Bayou Lafourche 200 CFS pump station, miter‑gate designs and several pump station and levee projects; council members pressed on timelines, permits and funding.
At the June 24 meeting Kevin Kaiser of GIS Engineering laid out progress and next steps on multiple Terrebonne Parish infrastructure projects, stressing phased work, permitting and funding constraints.
Bayou Terrebonne dredging: Kaiser said the latest phases (from Hollywood Road north to the parish line, including phase four and five) have been awarded to Currault Co.; the contractor will begin surveying and mobilization in July and has one year to complete its contract work. Council members raised maintenance concerns about older phases completed roughly 15 years ago.
Homer power plant: The council heard plans to demolish the old steam plant and replace it with an 80‑megawatt natural‑gas electric generation station. Temporary generators are in place; the permanent generators were described as custom units built overseas with about two years of fabrication and delivery time. Kaiser and council members estimated generator deliveries beginning around late 2028.
Bayou Lafourche pump station and underground culverts: Design is roughly 80% complete for a 200 cubic‑feet‑per‑second pump station that will tie into underground culverts; culvert diameters described in the briefing range from 60‑inches near Tunnel Boulevard to 96–102 inches approaching Highway 311. Staff said DOTD permits had previously expired but should be renewed when the parish is ready to advertise.
Miter gates and related flood‑control projects: The presentation included designs for a 56‑ft miter gate on Bayou Terrebonne intended to isolate the southern system and reduce recirculation of Intracoastal waters during pumping. The Company Canal miter gate and other related pump and berm projects are at varying stages of design and funding; staff said some projects have capital‑outlay or CPRA funding requests in process.
Council members pressed GIS Engineering on lead times, permit timelines and whether funding already identified (capital outlay, CPRA, FEMA) is sufficient for engineering and construction. Kaiser and administration staff repeatedly noted that environmental permits and DOTD approvals remain outstanding for several projects, and that some elements are "shelf ready" but lack construction funding.
The presentation was largely informational; council members did not take final votes on the projects at the meeting but asked administration to continue pursuing CPRA and capital outlay funding and to return with procurement steps as permits and funds are secured.
