FEMA gives $3M for Chauvin drainage project

May 12-- May 12--Terrebonne Parish will receive a $3 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency this year to finish an $11 million drainage project in Chauvin.

U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., announced the grant award last week.

Terrebonne Parish President Gordy Dove said the parish has been waiting on this final phase of funding for about two years.

The new grant money will match the parish's $8 million contribution to build a conveyance channel and pump station in Petit Caillou in Chauvin.

"Heavy rainfall and flooding in south Louisiana can wreck towns and cause massive damage," Kennedy said. "This grant will help protect towns like Chauvin from dangerous and destructive flooding."

The new pump station, with four 48-inch pumps, will reduce the water levels in Petit Caillou by draining all the water coming south from Bourg into Lake Boudreaux, Dove said.

It will work in conjunction with the $10 million lock system the parish is also building in Petit Caillou, he said.

The pump station, lock system and upcoming replacement of the Lashbrook pump station make for a combined $26 million investment in drainage projects in the Chauvin area.

Engineering is already complete, and the parish is expected to go to bid for construction next week, Dove said.

Construction should take about 13 months to complete.

When finished, the parish will be able to clean out the ditches along La. 56 and Bayouside Drive, "letting them flow back into the bayou like they did 40 years ago," Dove said.

The pump station will have water elevation monitors that can kick on the pumps when the Smithridge pump station starts sending water to Chauvin.

Dove thanked the area's congressional representatives, Kennedy; Sen. Bill Cassidy; Reps. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, and Steve Scalise, R-Metairie; and parish grant writers for their efforts to the secure the grant.

"This is a great announcement for Terrebonne Parish and especially Chauvin," Dove said.

Staff Writer Julia Arenstam can be reached at 448-7636 or jul ia.arenstam@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliaArenstam.

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