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Parish seeks federal help for Bayou Sorrel flood pump station; president to call special meeting
Summary
Iberville Parish officials told the council they have submitted federal funding requests for flood work including a $4.5 million phase‑one ask for a Bayou Sorrel pump station and plan a Corps of Engineers site visit; the parish president said he will call a special meeting within 21 days to address the related lawsuit and flood issues.
Parish officials told the Iberville Parish Council on May 19 that multiple federal funding requests are active for flood‑control work and that the parish is pursuing emergency and construction funding.
Parish staff highlighted a phase‑one funding request of $4.5 million toward a $38 million Bayou Sorrel flood pump station intended to relieve water flowing from Pointe Coupee and West Baton Rouge into Grand River and downstream channels. Officials said the work is part of a broader Amite River Basin Commission initiative to clear sediment and remove debris that impedes drainage.
"We have a phase one request for funding, which is 4.5 million, but phase one construction cost is a $38 million flood pump station," the parish president said, describing the project’s scope and the parish’s efforts to get federal partners involved. He said parish staff have turned federal applications over to U.S. Senators' offices and are meeting with Corps of Engineers leadership.
Officials said the New Orleans District Corps will send a representative (Colonel O'Tan or analogous district leader) to Plaquemine for an extended site visit; parish staff said they requested a longer meeting so the Corps can see Bayou Sorrel locks and downstream features in person.
In separate remarks about the recent lawsuit notice, the parish president told the council he would call a special meeting because certain legal matters must be addressed within 21 days. "I will be calling a special meeting very soon because we're going to have to address this within 21 days," he said.
Council members raised concerns about the speed of water drainage at local tributaries and asked staff to continue monitoring water levels and to deploy aqua dams if needed; staff also said they will improve public notification when parish crews open floodgates.
No federal funding decision was announced; officials said the parish has forwarded applications to Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Cassidy and is continuing technical coordination with state and federal partners.
