Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has announced a state commitment of $6 million to St. Charles Parish for needed levee improvements along Magnolia Ridge and the construction of a gate on the Paradis Canal.
The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) is providing the funding via the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) and the Resources and Ecosystems Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States (RESTORE) Act.
The Paradis Canal Gate will utilize vertical-lift and sluice gates to help prevent backwater flooding through the canal.
The Magnolia Ridge section is part of the West Bank Hurricane Protection Levee that is vitally important to St. Charles Parish residents who reside outside of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Hurricane Storm Damage Risk Reduction System.
“ The combined length of the four segments of earthen levees in this system is 33 miles ,” said CPRA Executive Director Bren Haase . “ Lifting the levee to seven-and-a-half feet is a great accomplishment as we work toward our goal outlined in the 2017 Coastal Master Plan of ultimately lifting them to 12-and-a-half feet .”