February 24 – North Lafourche Levee District
By Justin Terrebonne
On Tuesday, February 24, 2015, the members of the Rotary Club of Thibodaux had the privilege of meeting Dwayne Bourgeois, who presented information on the North Lafourche Levee District (NLLD).
Mr. Bourgeois is a lifelong resident of the Parish of Lafourche. He is the Executive Director of the NLLD, which is a title he has held since March 1, 2010, and he has taken a lead role in the FEMA Digital Flood Insurance Rate Maps.
The NLLD was created in 1992 to provide flood protection for North Lafourche, and includes all areas of the parish north of the Intracoastal Canal. It is divided into eight project areas and its purpose is to protect nearly two-thirds of the population of Lafourche Parish, which is approximately 65,000. This includes 250 miles of levees and drainage canals and 40 pump stations.
The NLLD is currently working on several projects throughout Lafourche Parish. The Rienzi area, as well as the Peltier Park/EDW White area, are undergoing maintenance dredging, and there is a clean and sweep project currently underway on the 80 Arpent Canal.
Unfortunately, the Federal government has made it difficult for NLLD to continue its efforts to save our coastal wetlands. For example, the 1973 Clean Water Act defines both waterway and wetland. These definitions have a significant impact on each and every project. Another example is the recent Executive Order—the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard. The intent of the Order is to ensure that Federal money is spent wisely. It is ordered that all Federal agencies use certain standards for any actions by that agency in order to be considered. This will place a burden on NLLD for each and every one of its projects to protect our parish.
It appears as though the movement with the government is to shift away from flood protection and move towards risk management. It is imperative that, as residents of Lafourche Parish, we talk to our legislators and encourage them to slow down this new movement and continue with structured flood protection.
