Happy New Year!
Off to a new year, hopefully a better one. At least we escaped MAJOR flooding in 2020. Some residents along coulee Ill des Cannes and north of Lafayette up in the Long Pine community of Evangeline Parish were not so lucky and did experience some flooding. Considering there were 4-5 Hurricanes and Tropical Storms threating the area during the season, OVERALL-WE WERE LUCKY! However, we cannot depend on luck to prevent another major flood. It will take understanding the drainage problems and projects to address the issues.
We accomplished much in 2020. DTV Board Members Harold, Brent, Gordon, Darrell, Bob, Jeremiah, Karen, Dr. Pat, Jennifer, and Pam, have made a lot progress regarding making inroads to politicians, government agencies and NGOs concerning flood management in the watershed. People in the political arena that have helped us last year include , but not limited to, Josh Guillory, John Guilbeau, Nanette Cook, Harold Taylor, Stuart Bishop, Page Cortez, Fred Mills, Chester Cedars, and Sherbin Collette. If you see any of them, please thank them for their support and guidance.
During the last year DTV led efforts on the following regional flood mitigation initiatives:
1. DTV let the effort to form a regional flood management team for the Teche-Vermilion watershed to coordinate flood management risk reduction efforts when a storm threatens the area. The team activated for each tropical storm and hurricane that threatened the area during 2020. The team consists of personnel from the USACE, Teche-Vermilion Freshwater District , Bayou Vermilion District , RRABB Levee board, local parish officials, and citizen volunteer members.
2. Working with Rep Stuart Bishop and LCG got approximately $12M placed in the LA state 2021 Appropriations bill for 3 projects.
a. Removal of spoil banks in Cypress Island swamp
b. Spot dredging the Vermilion River near the coulee Mine-Vermilion confluence
c. Construction of a diversion channel between Coulee Lasalle and the Joe Daigle Canal
3. Worked with St. Landry and St. Martin parishes to draft a project plan to remove flow obstructions in the West Atchafalaya Floodway that is inhibiting one of the 3 main drains in the Teche-Vermilion Watershed. This project received funding in the 2020 LA Coastal Restoration Authority(CPRA) Atchafalaya Basin Program.
4. Drafted project plan to install a larger flood gate between Bayou Courtableu and Bayou Amy for St. Landry Parish. This project has received approval of the Louisiana Watershed Initiative(LWI) Phase 1 project plan.
5. Currently working with Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) to develop a list of Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and LDWF managed lakes that can be potentially utilized as overflow swamp or retention zones to aid in flood management. Processes and projects executed in the local Teche-Vermilion Watershed will be utilized as a template go-by for the remaining watersheds in the state.
6. We met with Ducks Unlimited and received their blessing and support for the proposed opening the spoil banks to divert and disperse more Vermilion River flood waters into Cypress Island Swamp.
Below are logos of parishes and organizations that Dredge the Vermilion has worked closely with during 2020. If you see any of their respective political leaders, managers, or their staff please thank them for working with Dredge the Vermilion on these most important flood mitigation projects.
We are working on a professionally developed video regarding the Dredge The Vermilion with an introduction to the Vermilion River flooding situation. Be sure to look for an email shortly with a link to the video. We are sure you will have a better understanding of the drainage challenges we are facing after viewing the video.
In 2021 DTV will be offering small and community neighborhood presentations to inform the public as soon as the COVID situation allows. If you are interested in hosting a neighborhood meeting please contact us for details to arrange a meeting.
We have much to follow up on in 2021. But we are making progress.
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Dredge the Vermilion (DTV) is a non-profit 501(C)(3) setup to inform the public about the need to identify and to perform regional drainage projects in the Teche-Vermilion watershed.
The board and advisors of DTV are all citizen volunteers with varying backgrounds from engineering, business owners, business management, medical, and legal.
Board of Directors
Dave Dixon โ President
Harold Schoeffler โ Vice President
Brent Logan โ Sec/Treasurer
Directors
Karen Hail
Jeffery Svendson
Jerimiah Supple
Darrell Fontenot
Bob Hammack JD
Tommy Guilbeau JD
Dr Pat Harrington MD
Dr Lewis Hill MD
Mike Waldon PhD
Advisors
Jennifer McKay โ Marketing and Social Media Advisor
Pam Granger PE โ Engineering Advisor
Gordon Schoeffler JD โ Legal Advisor
Michael Lunsford โ Technology and Political Advisor
Facebook
If you wish to help with our efforts please like and share our posts on Facebook(search โDredge the Vermilionโ)
Website
Please see our website at www.dredgethevermilion.org if you would like to make a donation. All donations help fund our website, Facebook and other marketing efforts, public outreach, and research.
Thank You,
Dave Dixon
President Dredge the Vermilion