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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Hurricane Protection Projects Committee Meeting - June 1, 2026

Parish Council & Boards — Monday, June 1, 2026

BodySt Charles Parish, Louisiana

SessionParish Council & Boards

DateMonday, June 1, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 53:16

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:06

Good evening and welcome to the Hurricane Protection Projects Committee meeting on Monday, June 1st, 2026 at 5 p.m.

0:12

in the council chambers in the parish courthouse.

0:15

Please silence all electronic devices and remove all hats.

0:18

This meeting is called to order with a silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:55

All right, matters before the committee.

0:57

2026 0157 report on federal hurricane protection and storm damage risk reduction projects.

1:05

We're going to have three presenters this evening.

1:08

And the first presenter is going to be Ponch Train Levy District, Miss Jane Dufour is here on behalf of Ponch Train Levy District.

1:29

Good evening.

1:31

Okay.

1:32

And don't forget to introduce any of your folks that you have here.

1:36

Certainly.

1:37

Thank you.

1:38

My name is Jane, and I'm the director of right of way management at Civic Civil Group and I'm here on behalf of the Lobby District this evening to highlight PLD's mission, their responsibilities, and their ongoing project work within C Celter.

1:54

PLD's been in operation for over 130 years, and he continues to provide vital flood capacity, flood fighting, screening systems, levee maintenance, and other services to be done to presence and property on the East Bank of the King Isabel.

2:10

Ascension, St.

2:12

James, St.

2:12

John, St.

2:13

Moss Dance.

2:17

Is their board director and executive staff this evening for 206 health working time?

2:24

Commissioners and Michelle.

3:33

PLD is responsible for operation and maintenance of 118 miles of mainline Mississippi levee.

3:41

Their responsibilities include reviewing and providing letters of no objection for any work within 1,500 feet of the mainline Mississippi levee.

3:50

PLD staff patrols the levee system daily, ensuring the integrity of the system.

3:56

PLD is also responsible for levee maintenance, such as grass cutting, flood fighting initiatives during high water events, and included on the slides.

4:13

PLD serves as the non-federal sponsor for construction projects along the east bank of the Mississippi River Levee with its within its jurisdiction.

4:21

These projects are designed and constructed by the Corps of Engineers.

4:25

PLD's responsibility includes land easements, rights of way, relocations, and disposal areas, often referred to as LERDs, which include obtaining any land rights, coordination with property owners or utility owners on relocations, and sourcing borrow material and projects currently under construction include the St.

4:47

Rose Levy Enlargement Project in St.

4:49

Charles Parish, which is nearing construction, and included on the slide are other recently completed projects as well as projects that are planned for the near future.

5:01

So the St.

5:03

Rose portion of the Mississippi River Levee that's currently under construction was raised an average of 1.5 feet to improve flood protection.

5:13

The contractors in the process of completing the levee ramps and the all weather access road on the crown of the levee.

5:20

These features are slated to be completed in mid to late June of this year, and the turf establishments forecasted to be completed in mid to late July.

5:31

So the project is wrapping up.

5:33

They'll just need to make sure the grass is established to complete the project by the end of the summer.

5:41

Switching gears to the Lake Ponch train and vicinity hurricane storm damage risk reduction system, which is located on the east bank of the Mississippi.

5:50

PLD is responsible for operation and maintenance of the earthen levees in St.

5:55

Charles Parish and conducts quarterly inspections on all levy sections.

6:00

Portion of the project in St.

6:01

Charles Parish is bound by the Bonnie Carrie Spillway on the west side and on the east by the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, where it ties into the Jefferson Parish portion of the project.

6:16

The project was designed and constructed to reduce risk associated with storm surge event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year or 100 year level of protection.

6:29

The project includes four sections of earthen levee, five flood wall projects, four drainage structures, seven access bridge, and three swing gates.

6:39

Additionally, two pump stations are integrated into the Hezra system in St.

6:43

Charles Parish.

6:44

And there are two additional pump stations that the parish has installed after the project was completed.

6:50

All pumps are operated by St.

6:52

Charles Parish.

6:53

Construction of LPV to the design elevation was completed in 2012.

7:00

So the next two slides show the area of protection within the LPV section.

7:06

And certainly all project features play an important role in closing the system during the threat of a storm surge.

7:14

One ongoing LPV project effort in St.

7:17

Charles Parish, that's an important component.

7:20

To ensure that there's a closed system, is the Illinois Central Railroad swing gate located at the railroad crossing at the St.

7:27

Charles Jefferson Parish line near the airport.

7:30

During standard operation of the swing gate in February 2022, the upper hinge assembly pulled away from the gate support column and became inoperable.

7:39

PLD personnel and contractors were able to open and secure the gate manually in the open position.

7:46

Interroom repairs were designed and constructed so that the gate could be manually closed.

7:53

And that was completed in July of 2022.

7:57

And that interim repair, though not the long term solution, has been an operable solution during the past few hurricanes seasons, will continue into this hurricane season.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████████████████████████████████65%

Water And Wastewater Management███████████16%

Procedural████████11%

Environmental Protection███5%

Budget Equity Analysis██3%

Summary of Proceedings

Hurricane Protection Projects Committee Meeting - June 1, 2026

The Hurricane Protection Projects Committee (Council as a Whole) met on Monday, June 1, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 5:54 PM in the Council Chambers to receive updates on federal and local hurricane protection and storm damage risk reduction projects. Presentations were delivered by representatives from the Pontchartrain Levee District (PLD), the Lafourche Basin Levee District (LBLD), and St. Charles Parish. The meeting was held on the first day of the 2026 hurricane season.

Public Comments & Testimony

No members of the public spoke during the public hearing.

Discussion Items

Pontchartrain Levee District (PLD) Report (Ms. Jane Dufour, Civix): Ms. Dufour highlighted PLD's responsibilities for 118 miles of mainline Mississippi River levee, including daily patrols, maintenance, and serving as non-federal sponsor for Corps projects. The St. Rose Levee Enlargement in St. Charles Parish is nearing completion; levee ramps and access road are slated for completion in mid-to-late June 2026, with turf establishment by mid-to-late July. The Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity (LPV) Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System includes earthen levees, floodwalls, drainage structures, and pump stations. The Illinois Central Railroad swing gate near the airport became inoperable in February 2022; interim repairs allow manual closure, and a replacement hinge will be installed after the 2026 hurricane season. PLD has a 35% cost-share commitment for future LPV improvements, including armoring and levee lifts due to subsidence; the next lift for remaining sections is forecast for 2028-2030. The West Shore Lake Pontchartrain (WSLP) project includes 14 construction contracts; 12 have been awarded, with completion targeted by 2030. The Corps estimates total construction by summer 2027. The wetland mitigation component includes the river reintroduction to Maurepas Swamp (Maurepas diversion).
Lafourche Basin Levee District (LBLD) Report (Mr. Donald Ray Henry, Executive Director): Mr. Henry presented the district's master plan, budget, and ongoing projects. He noted that St. Charles Parish provides 66% of the district's millage (3.88 mills). He expressed concern about erosion on the recently completed Sunset levee lift, which is fresh and fragile; washouts from Gulf winds are occurring, and heavy equipment cannot access the area. He suggested barging in material for repairs. The district secured $8 million for engineering and design and $23 million in construction funds for the Upper Barataria Basin (UBB) project. The UBB project is not fully funded; the Corps is proceeding incrementally. Mr. Henry also mentioned a $300,000 project for a water line in St. James Parish, with construction imminent.
St. Charles Parish Report (Mr. Sam Scholle, Senior Projects Manager): Mr. Scholle provided updates on several local projects: Munch 1 Pump Station (estimated completion November 2026) – intake section and MCC building foundation under construction, bar screens due to ship in June. Munch 2 Pump Station – walls poured, with a protective wall system required for deep excavation (minus 14.5 feet) to meet Corps 408 permit requirements. Sunset Pump Station Upgrade – completed in February 2026, including widening of the canal system (removal of 67,000 cubic yards of material) and new electrical feeder system. Cousins T-wall Project – a $16.7 million grant secured (total estimated cost $23 million); the project includes widening the canal, larger box culverts, and a 6+ acre sump. The T-wall is built to +16.5 feet (50-year standard). The excavated clay (70,000 cubic yards) will be stored on site and used for a future levee lift to elevation 8 in the 2029 master plan. Engineers Canal Pump Station – still in engineering phase; design must allow existing station to remain operational during construction.
Council Discussion: Councilman Pilié asked about ultimate completion dates for the East Bank and West Bank hurricane protection levee systems. Mr. Kyle Galloway (GIS Engineering) stated that for the Upper Barataria system, an interim closed system by 2029 is unlikely, with 2030-2031 more realistic. Mr. Scholle noted that the West Shore project is targeted for 2030, but the Upper Barataria project lacks full funding and full engineering. Parish President Jewell raised concerns about erosion on the Sunset levee lift due to ATV and golf cart traffic, and suggested obtaining additional levee servitude to widen slopes for easier maintenance. Councilman Comardelle asked about hydraulic studies for the barge gate, specifically where water would go when the gate is closed. Mr. Galloway responded that the levee district hired Olsen (formerly FTN) to model this; the worst induced flooding on the hurricane side of the interim project was about five inches, and in extreme cases that water would be on top of already flooded areas. Mr. Scholle noted that the Corps gave a best guess of 6-12 inches of additional water for the final project. Mr. Galloway added that the Corps' stacking factor analysis for the Chiefs report did not produce a specific number for the Upper Barataria system.

Key Outcomes

No formal action was taken on the report. The committee received the information and discussed the projects.
A motion to adjourn was made by Councilmember O'Daniels, seconded by Councilmember Fisher, and passed unanimously (9-0) at approximately 5:54 PM.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Hurricane Protection Projects Committee meeting on Monday, June 1st, 2026 at 5 p.m. in the council chambers in the parish courthouse. Please silence all electronic devices and remove all hats. This meeting is called to order with a silent prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. All right, matters before the committee. 2026 0157 report on federal hurricane protection and storm damage risk reduction projects. We're going to have three presenters this evening. And the first presenter is going to be Ponch Train Levy District, Miss Jane Dufour is here on behalf of Ponch Train Levy District. Good evening. Okay. And don't forget to introduce any of your folks that you have here. Certainly. Thank you. My name is Jane, and I'm the director of right of way management at Civic Civil Group and I'm here on behalf of the Lobby District this evening to highlight PLD's mission, their responsibilities, and their ongoing project work within C Celter. PLD's been in operation for over 130 years, and he continues to provide vital flood capacity, flood fighting, screening systems, levee maintenance, and other services to be done to presence and property on the East Bank of the King Isabel. Ascension, St. James, St. John, St. Moss Dance. Is their board director and executive staff this evening for 206 health working time? Commissioners and Michelle. PLD is responsible for operation and maintenance of 118 miles of mainline Mississippi levee. Their responsibilities include reviewing and providing letters of no objection for any work within 1,500 feet of the mainline Mississippi levee. PLD staff patrols the levee system daily, ensuring the integrity of the system. PLD is also responsible for levee maintenance, such as grass cutting, flood fighting initiatives during high water events, and included on the slides. PLD serves as the non-federal sponsor for construction projects along the east bank of the Mississippi River Levee with its within its jurisdiction. These projects are designed and constructed by the Corps of Engineers. PLD's responsibility includes land easements, rights of way, relocations, and disposal areas, often referred to as LERDs, which include obtaining any land rights, coordination with property owners or utility owners on relocations, and sourcing borrow material and projects currently under construction include the St. Rose Levy Enlargement Project in St. Charles Parish, which is nearing construction, and included on the slide are other recently completed projects as well as projects that are planned for the near future. So the St. Rose portion of the Mississippi River Levee that's currently under construction was raised an average of 1.5 feet to improve flood protection. The contractors in the process of completing the levee ramps and the all weather access road on the crown of the levee. These features are slated to be completed in mid to late June of this year, and the turf establishments forecasted to be completed in mid to late July. So the project is wrapping up. They'll just need to make sure the grass is established to complete the project by the end of the summer. Switching gears to the Lake Ponch train and vicinity hurricane storm damage risk reduction system, which is located on the east bank of the Mississippi. PLD is responsible for operation and maintenance of the earthen levees in St. Charles Parish and conducts quarterly inspections on all levy sections. Portion of the project in St. Charles Parish is bound by the Bonnie Carrie Spillway on the west side and on the east by the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, where it ties into the Jefferson Parish portion of the project. The project was designed and constructed to reduce risk associated with storm surge event that has a 1% chance of occurring in any given year or 100 year level of protection. The project includes four sections of earthen levee, five flood wall projects, four drainage structures, seven access bridge, and three swing gates. Additionally, two pump stations are integrated into the Hezra system in St. Charles Parish. And there are two additional pump stations that the parish has installed after the project was completed. All pumps are operated by St. Charles Parish. Construction of LPV to the design elevation was completed in 2012. So the next two slides show the area of protection within the LPV section.

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