Bayou Chene project removal almost done

Work is nearing completion on removal of the Bayou Chene emergency structure closure that officials installed in January to prevent regional flooding. Bayou Chene was reopened to vessel traffic several weeks ago.
The St. Mary Levee District Commission met Thursday in Franklin.
At the meeting, Executive Director Tim Matte said the district expects to spend a total of $7.77 million relating to the winter flood fight by the time workers finish making all necessary repairs. District officials expect to be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for 75 percent of the costs.
So far, the district has spent about $5 million in flood fight costs but hasn’t received any reimbursement yet, Matte said. Those costs include repairs to levees in Amelia and flood protection work on Tabor Canal in Terrebonne Parish.
Officials expect that all work related to the Bayou Chene temporary flood protection project to be finished by Sept. 5, Jeff Peña of CB&I engineering firm said. By that date, all work on Tabor Canal should be complete, Matte said.
In January, a temporary barge was put in place on Bayou Chene surrounded by sheet pilings to prevent parts of St. Mary, Terrebonne, Assumption, Lower St. Martin, Lafourche and Iberville from flooding due to high water in the Atchafalaya River.
Peña said the rented barge was returned to its owner 26 days ahead of schedule, which saved the levee district $143,000. Levee district officials returned the barge July 30.
District leaders will start in September on the project to repair the road on Avoca Island, Matte said. Louisiana National Guard members used the road while placing HESCO baskets on the island in January to prevent flooding in the area.
During the meeting, officials discussed progress on the Morgan City Levee Improvements Project, which is aimed at raising levees to certify them for flood insurances purposes. The project is estimated to cost a total of $18 million and anticipated to be complete during 2017.
Construction is about 30 percent complete on the Siracusaville portion of that project, said engineer Kevin O’Gorman of T. Baker Smith. Work is running slightly behind schedule due to rain. Some limestone has been placed along U.S. 90 for that part of the project, he said.
For the Lake End Park to Justa Street part of the project, engineers submitted 95 percent plans to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority July 28.
Engineers are trying to push to get the section of the project between U.S. 90 and the Cajun Coast Visitors Center in Morgan City finished so the center can begin work on its parking lot, O’Gorman said.
In other business, the commission
—Approved the district’s annual audit for the year ended Dec. 31, 2015. Auditor Blaine Crochet of Darnall, Sikes, Gardes & Frederick presented the audit report. The firm issued unmodified opinions, the most favorable possible, on the district’s financial statements, he said.
—Approved an agreement to enter into a lease and payment terms with Avoca for limestone staging.
—Approved change orders for the Bayou Chene 2016 Emergency Structure Removal project and Bayou Chene Flood Control Structure.
—Approved payment No. 1 on the Bayou Chene Emergency Structure Removal project.
—Authorized entering into a cooperative endeavor agreement with Wax Lake East Drainage District for use of a road grader.
—Approved the purchase of hand held radios for use in emergencies.
—Approved change order for the Amelia Back Levee Emergency Repair project.