Bayou Teche Clearing and Snagging Project Equipment
March 28 2024
During the 2023 election season members of the board of Dredge the Vermilion (DTV) met with State Senator Canidate Blake Miguez regarding Teche Vermilion Watershed Regional Drainage issues. One issue we focused on during the meeting was the known drainage problem in Bayou Teche south of the Keystone Dam near St Martinville. This issue negatively affected the operation of a major drainage project in St Martin Parish, the Joe Dage Canal Project, during flooding conditions. DTV had monitored this Joe Dage Project from conception until substantial completion collecting flow and level data to determine drainage capacity. We noted that the canal’s drainage efficiency was greatly diminished when levels in the Teche south of the Keystone approached levels of the Vermilion River in the Cypress Island Swamp. You can read more about the Joe Dage Canal Project at this link – Regional Drainage Project Update-Joe Daigle Canal – Dredge The Vermilion
On March 14 2024 we received the below message from now Senator Elect Blake Miguez:
“Just a heads up guys, the governor and I have the Army Corp of engineers starting in the Bayou Teche this week to clear all obstructions south of the Keystone locks through Iberia parish. I hope this improves the water flow.”
Dave Dixon replied
“Great news!! Blake thank you for your help with this important project. We know of several very large water oaks are in the bayou south of the dam, so large they almost reach across to the other bank. I am sure there are many more. I have noted when a flood event happens the water downstream of the dam piles up. This hurts drainage from the Joe Dage canal which is a secondary drain of the Cypress Island swamp. Again, thanks for your help..”
Harold Schoeffler, Brent Logan, and I have made many trips to check flows etc. on Joe Dage as soon as St Martin announced that they were going to clear snag and dredge it. We made observations and measurements both before, during, and after the project during various conditions. We noted that when Bayou Teche levels south of Keystone rose, Joe Dage QUIT draining. This was reported to St Martin Parish. Gordon Schoeffler had reported large trees down south of the Keystone dam. We notified the parish, USACE, the state, and even the US Coast Guard! USACE sent a survey team and reported yes there was a problem but they didn’t have any money to address. So net-net St Martin spent $millions on the Joe Dage Project but didn’t help much in flooding conditions. Hopefully, this Bayou Teche Project will help fix that problem.
I also mentioned this situation to the USACE at the public hearing in Morgan City Thursday March 7th. Made testimony regarding to the court reporter as did Harold Schoeffler, Bob Hammick, and Brent Logan. So, this issue (and many more) are recorded in the public record.”
These 2 Projects work TOGETHER in handling Flood Flows!
These two projects, the Teche Project and the Joe Dage Project, are important regional drainage projects that directly impact most parishes in the watershed by allowing the Bayou Teche to better handle flood flows as well as reducing the flood flows in the Vermilion by handling some of the flood flows entering the Cypress Island Swamp.
After starting the project the contractor advised that the Teche clearing and snagging project was so bad with downed trees they needed approximately $800,000 more to complete the project not including the Teche-Lake canal (AKA the Loreauville canal). Note this canal provides a connection between the Bayou Teche and Lake Fausse Pointe.
Lafayette Parish Councilman John Guilbeau talked to Senator Miguez earlier this week and he advised that the additional money from the state was arranged by Governor Landry, Iberia Parish, Teche Vermilion Freshwater District (TVFD), State of Louisiana GOSEP, and the Federal Government. This is good news as these types of projects are sorely needed for all the major drainage tributaries in the State of Louisiana. We need to thank Senator Blake Miguez, Governor Landry, Iberia Parish, and Executive Director Donald Sagrera and his board at TVFD for financial assistance with this important project. More details to follow.
Pictures of Teche Project
Survey Map of Downed Trees and Debris in Bayou Teche
Downed Tree in Bayou Teche
Senator Miguez at Bayou Teche Project Control Room
Summary of Project Funding Sources
The initial project estimate was $800,000. The State of Louisiana provided $500,000 and the USACE $300,000. After surveys and some work contractor estimated another $800,000 would be needed to complete the project. The state worked with GOSEP and the Federal government to get most of that money. Additionally, TVFD put up $65,000 and Iberia Parish put up $65,000 plus the use of the parish’s public works employees and dump to dispose of the obstructions.
Related
As we stated above, these sorts of issues exist statewide. As a young man in my twenties I worked with my dad on a clearing and snagging project on the upper Teche. This was over 50 years ago and I believe this was the last time this sort of project was done on the Teche. Fallen trees greatly impede the tributary’s ability to handle flood flows and must be removed periodically for flood mitigation purposes as well to ensure safe navigation for marine traffic. These types of projects are sorely needed for all the major drainage tributaries in the State of Louisiana. A portion of the Vermilion River in Lafayette Parish was cleared and snagged back in 2021 but much more needs to be done. You can read about that project here.
AT LAST!! Clearing and Snagging the Vermilion River – Dredge The Vermilion
A recent news article regarding clearing and snagging the Amite River was published. Flooding on the Amite was even more severe than flooding on the Vermilion River in 2016. Read about that project in the link below.
As these three projects illustrate the severe conditions of our main drainage tributaries, DTV advises the state and the parishes to urgently conduct surveys to evaluate the conditions of like tributaries in the state and commission projects to address needed clearing and snagging work.
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧
Dredge the Vermilion (DTV) is a non-profit setup to inform the public about the need to identify and to perform regional drainage projects in the Teche-Vermilion watershed.
The board of DTV are all citizen volunteers with varying backgrounds from engineering, business owners, business management, medical, and legal.
If you wish to help with our efforts please like and share our posts on Facebook(search “Dredge the Vermilion”) and 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.