June 28 2021 Courtableau and Opelousas LA
Funding for engineering and modeling for a project identified by DTV in St. Landry Parish has been provided by the LA DOTD. The project will provide improved flood water management impacting a number of parishes as well as providing additional freshwater downstream in Bayou Amy, Catahoula Lake, and Lakes Dauterive and Fausse Point improving water quality. DTV met with representatives from LA DOTD, LDWF, St. Landry Parish , St. Martin Parish, RRABB Levee Board, and engineers from MML&H and HALFF. DTV presented a conceptual design and provided research regarding USACE projects and reports that were related to area projects.
Area near new Bayou Courtableau to Amy gate
The flood gate would provide a second drainage facility to lower the Bayou Courtableau watershed when a significant rain storm event such as a tropical system or a stalled frontal system threatens the watershed. Often the levels downstream of the existing gates for Courtableau in the West Atchafalaya Floodway West Guide Levee are too high for effective drainage to execute a drawdown of Courtableau. The existing Courtableau gates were deemed insufficient in a report by the USACE to the Mississippi River Commission back in 2007. Additionally, this new gate could provide a method to maintain lower levels on Courtableau where high water levels have contributed to severe bank erosion that have flooded and damaged both state highways and parish roadways. For example, levels at the Courtableau overflow weirs exceeded the weirs 18′ elevation for 49 consecutive days between April 14th until June 2nd.
Overflow Weir at Bayou Courtableau
Additionally LWI has provided LA DOTD with funds to replace an undersized drawdown gate on Bayou and Lake Cocodrie. This new gate will also allow a drawdown of Lake Cocodrie in the event of a storm threat. This lake and bayou is upstream of bayou Courtableau and operation of the gate will have to be coordinated with operation of the new gate for Courtableau. This gate could be used to prevent flooding of highway US167 as well as help manage flood waters entering bayou Courtableau from the northwest side of the watershed. LDWF has assigned Inland Fisheries Biologist Manager Jody David to help develop drawdown operational procedures and lake pool stages management. State Representative Rhonda Butler is assisting with coordination between LA DOTD and LDWF for this project.
Area near new Lake Cocodrie drawdown gate
𝐀𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧
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 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 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.