However, help is on the way with a new drainage project on Alligator Bayou Road in Ascension Parish. East Ascension residents like Sheila Templet, 50, who, with her family, lives on South Hodgeson Avenue south of Gonzales and just north of Bayou Conway, are looking for a solution. All rights reserved. In 2016, an estimated 17 billion gallons of water flowed over the road and into the swamp basin until the high water could be stopped with large sandbags and other measures. BATON ROUGE - The Tigers win the Podium Watch the 2 Your Health report for Friday, March 3, 2023. But EBR says the dams could worsen flooding there. A home is protected by an AquaDam on Bluff Road in Ascension Parish as the area continues to deal with flooding problems on Monday May 24, 2021. (WAFB) - New flood mitigation measures are being developed in parts of Ascension Parish that will hopefully prevent flooding in the future. <> Latitude/Longitude Disclaimer: The gauge location shown in the above map The new outlet and pump would also remove runoff from New River that now must travel 18 miles east through Geismar, Gonzales and St. Amant to Ascension's Marvin J. Braud Pumping Station, ultimately also keeping some water out of St. James and Livingston parishes downstream from those pumps. Backwater flooding occurs along the lower reaches of these streams and along Bayou Manchac. Share: Flooding in Ascension Parish on the morning of Tuesday, May 18, 2021. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The mouth of the Amite River at Lake Maurepas is the main drain for the big bathtub called the Amite River Basin. Map shows how when Bayou Manchac floods, it puts many homes in East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Iberville parishes at risk. Bold criminal secretly relaunched massage parlor prostitution ring as he cut a St. John's big inning hands Southeastern second straight loss, Coach Kim Mulkey talks LSU's record-tying season. Officials said the pumps can each discharge about 20,000 gallons of water per minute. Drainage project to help flooding in Ascension Parish, LSU WR Malik Nabers arrested in New Orleans; prosecutors refuse to charge with condition, Power restored after outage at SU for mens basketball game, Newly installed Methodist bishop makes Louisiana history, 1 person hurt during overnight shooting, officials say, Scammers posing as Livingston Parish sheriff, deputies say, ExxonMobil faces racial discrimination lawsuit. Weather Forecast Office New Orleans/Baton Rouge, LA, Chance of Exceeding Levels During Entire Period, Short-term Probabilistic Guidance (Experimental), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Data and Site Info for Port Vincent. Phone: (985) 448-4103 Benefitting Baton Rouge: Overall, Graves has secured over $3 billion half to clear the backlog of legacy flood projects and half to provide future protection against flood risks in South Louisiana. Welcome to our Memorial apartments for rent, an amplified style of luxury apartment living in this prestigious area of Houston, Texas. Proud of BCWK's bold legal efforts to defend our region's wetlands, led by Legal Director Kristen Schlemmer. Once more to the pumps: Ascension eyes new pump station to cut down Manchac flooding. Have an idea for a future video? The people who live in Bluff Swamp began flooding late last week from rain and drainage in the swamp region west of Bluff Road. Also, Kemp and others noted, any major plan to dredge out Manchac ignores an important fact about flooding on the bayou. Backwater flooding is particularly severe when the Amite River floods. Hemmed in by low bridges and the occasional bulkhead, choked by sediment and debris, the bayou holds a key spot in Louisiana history, had once been intermittently tied to the Mississippi River and is the occasional grounds of wandering manatees. River Stage Reference Frame Gauge Height Flood Stage Uses; NWS stage: 0 ft : 8 ft : Interpreting hydrographs and NWS watch, warnings, and forecasts, and inundation maps This strain results in an increased risk that surrounding areas will experience catastrophic flooding during an intense rain event. Water will spread across the entire area from Bayou Mancha south to Port Vincent. For a second time in less than five years, high, slow-draining floodwater in the Bluff Swamp will force Ascension Parish workers to cut a drainage path through Alligator Bayou Road, shutting it potentially for weeks longer. BATON ROUGE, La. Given the higher elevations near the MS river as opposed to the lowering elevations along the route of bayou manchac - it would appear the river flowed into bayou manchac most of the time, LSU gymnastics club meet brings tourists to downtown Baton Rouge. All rights reserved. The dams extend into Ascension Parish. Getting even just a little water out is something that will help improve life for Braud, who has lived here his whole life. This essentially with two twelve-by-twelve type box culverts- this will equal a cut in the road- so when Manchac comes down, well be able to open those up and allow this water to get out, Cointment explained. 4 0 obj Its why Ascension Parish officials are looking at fixing the issues surrounding New River Bayou. Port Allen Pelicans basketball team soaring toward fourth-straight state title, Sample duo leading Scotlandville into playoffs, For help accessing the WBRZ-TV Public File, contact: Joey Verrett at. Cost has always been a stumbling block, however, for pumping plans that likely would need federal dollars, officials have said. So, we are able to establish capacity beforehand and able to take that volume from that basin giving us another option, says Cointment. BATON ROUGE - One week into Lent and the crawfish market is seeing one of its first significant drops of the season. GONZALES Armed with new data from the August flood, Ascension Parish officials are going to revisit an old idea to dredge Bayou Manchac with. Rather than fighting, were working with the parishes on solutions like the ones announced in East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Iberville. LIVINGSTON PARISH - The parents of a high Saturday PM Forecast: The comfortable weather is sticking around. Widespread flooding will develop with significant backwater flooding over neighborhoods in Livingston and Ascension Parishes. John Monzon, civil works manager for HNTB, told an Ascension drainage panel that the pump would allow the parish to better control water levels in Bluff Swamp and build up flood storage capacity in advance of big rains. Streets will flood in Port Vincent. Connect with Lee Ann via Social MediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/scotchonthebayou Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scotchonthebayou Subscribe to Scotch on the Bayou YouTube Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbSH41hQXaIQMFndEH5-MmA QUESTION Have a question about scotch, whisky, Louisiana? Ascension Parish flood mitigations are being constructed for New River Bayou, LSU WR Malik Nabers arrested in New Orleans; prosecutors refuse to charge with condition, Mini workshop to bust myths surrounding sexual health, Experts give tips to prepare for daylight saving time. Councilman Corey Orgeron, who represents northern Prairieville west of Airline Highway, had a basic question for Monzon. The path will allow more water to drain from the Bluff Swamp and greater Spanish Lake area. Grays Creek and the main channel of the Amite River will merge. UPDATE: Ascension President Clint Cointment announced Monday the cut was reopened after it was closed over the weekend due to heavy rain. BATON ROUGE, La., Aug. 24 (UPI) --Louisiana authorities on Tuesday cut through and dug a 1-foot-deep hole in Alligator Bayou Road to relieve flooding in Ascension and Iberville parishes.The 1-foot . Evacuations will be necessary. Fax: (225) 442-1736, Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Iberville parishes reaching regional solutions, BATON ROUGE, LA U.S. For details. So, with previous storms- in 2016 as well as in May 2021- we had to cut the road to let the water out. Email David J. Mitchell at dmitchell@theadvocate.com. Major investments Graves successfully pushed for during the funding process: Morganza to the Gulf: $31 million for the Bayou Terrebonne floodgate and Highway 55 road gate design, as well as designing the levee and control structure for two critical segments of the project. At that height, water in the bayou would start to flow back into the swamp basin. The ownership, management and staff are totally aligned and committed to the residents loving their lifestyle. Engineers with the Baton Rouge firm HNTB say the plan would take advantage of a natural link between New River and the Bluff Swamp that La. Ascension on the Bayou is located in the heart of Houston, Texas, allowing you to amplify your lifestyle as you are never far from exceptional dining, endless shopping, and exciting entertainment. The plan to clear and snag Bayou Manchac from Highway 30 to the Alligator Bayou Flood Control Gate was introduced to the Baton Rouge Metro Council. ASCENSION PARISH - On Tuesday morning, a number of Ascension Parish Roads are closed due to area flooding overnight Monday. The Tigers beat out No. The latest bout of high water stems from heavy rains that caused severe flash flooding in Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes last week and the subsequent drainage from those areas -- where rain approached 14 inches in a short span -- into the Bayou Manchac area. What's the best way to control Baton Rouge-area rivers? BATON ROUGE, La. These communities in Iberville Parish are close knit and self dependent. Post in comments section of this video. Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave. They want to see more work on the bayou itself that benefits northern Prairieville residents directly. Ascension officials cut into Alligator Bayou Road Friday to help alleviate high water left behind by last week's downpour. The State-run Louisiana Watershed Initiative hasrecently announcedtranches of projects across Louisiana that are funded by the Graves-secured $1.2 billion federal Community Development Block Grant for Louisiana flood mitigation. Living at Ascension has completely changed the way I think about home. Bob Jacobsen, a Baton Rouge hydrologist who has been a part of past studies of Manchac, said a lot will depend on what kind of flood reduction HNTB can find from the proposal. What that allows us to do is it allows us to regulate the surface elevations of north and west of the weir being New River, Goudine and the three branches of Goudine, says Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment. Ascension Parish officials are trying to lower water levels in the swamp to protect homes in the swamp basin. Copyright 2021 WAFB. SLIDELL - Two men were shot and killed in St. Tammany Parish late Saturday morning. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. View the Enhanced Operating Capability Products and Services StoryMap here. ASCENSION PARISH, La. Bonifay presented Ascension Parish with a comprehensive plan for new locks at Alligator and Frog bayous and the dredging of the sediment to increase the outflow during seasonal flooding. Reservoirs? 10, 2021 at 3:03 PM PDT. John Rosso, a resident of the Belle Grove neighborhood in Prairieville, has been trying to gather support from surrounding neighborhood associations to press Graves and local officials on Manchac. As workers stand on a temporary bridge, high water from the Bluff Swamp flows Friday, May 28, 2021, into Bayou Manchac, bottom, through a new, temporary drainage channel, center, left, cut across. With the boat tied to a tree, a houses reflects in the surrounding flood waters on Bluff Road as Ascension and Iberville Parishes continue to deal with flooding problems Monday May 24, 2021, in Ascension Parish, La. There are no FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers for the location which you are viewing on ESRI Maps. Sharon Weston Broome, Iberville Parish President Mitchell Ourso, State Senator Eddie Lambert, State Representative Tony Bacala, Councilman Corey Orgeron and Prairieville homeowner associations to discuss the ongoing clearing and snagging and future plans. That kind of work could require, Rosso said, dredging out the Amite from its mouth at Lake Maurepas north and then into Manchac. Flood level estimated. ESRI's zoom levels must be between 14 and 16 to show National Flood Hazard layers. Instead of state and national help, the Parish government, volunteer groups, and community citizens have rallied to do what they could to hold the river back and help keep people and property safe. . Person hurt in shooting at apartment complex on Lobdell Boulevard early Saturday, Officers make arrest in double-homicide sparked by verbal altercation Saturday morning. For years, as East Baton Rouge has sprawled south and Ascension and Iberville parishes have reached north, people have searched for ways to unclog the scenic bottleneck that is Bayou Manchac. Six members of the panel face their own election recalls, including Orgeron. 427 Bridge/Old Perkins Road over Bayou Manchac between East Baton Rouge and Ascension Parishes Friday June 25, 2021, in Baton Rouge, La. According to the How do I know if I have a cold, the flu or COVID-19? But he believes mechanical drainage methods like pumps should only be a last option after all natural solutions are examined. The Southern #1 LSU baseball with 26 run outburst to throttle Central Connecticut State on Saturday. Ascension Parish officials say they cant wait any longer, on Nash Road, this is just one of many small projects that is going to make a big difference for folks who had tons of flooding within the past couple of weeks. Friday PM Forecast: starting weekend cooler then trending warmer. 2 0 obj We are committed to helping direct funding toward improved drainage of the Manchac, Alligator Bayou, and Spanish Lake basin,, $8.5 million to acquire the lowlands of Bayou Duplantier for flood retention, $5.7 million to create retention for Ward Creek, $4.7 million for Cypress Bayou green infrastructure in East Baton Rouge Parish, $5 million to restore the University Lakes and reduce flood risk, Overall, Graves has secured over $3 billion half to clear the backlog of legacy flood projects and half to provide future protection against flood risks in South Louisiana. The project on Alligator Bayou Road is scheduled to be finished sometime this summer. We never had anything done back here to help us with the water ever. They include at least one other pump station at the former Willow Glen power station near St. Gabriel that would drain Manchac directly, bayou clearing projects and the raising of low bridges over Manchac, Ascension and other officials have said. "Almost a year ago, there was an extreme weather occurrence where there was flooding and Alligator Bayou Road needed to be cut," said Ascension Parish Communication Director Brandon Gatlin.. "The natural flow of the terrain, in my view, is the best means to address the problem, alright? We just would ask for our share of help.. Since the 2016 flood, Iberville has completed an expansion of its floodgate where Alligator Bayou joins Bayou Manchac. Recently,more fundingwas announced for Louisiana flood protection projects. Congressman Garret Graves (South Louisiana)issued the following statement after East Baton Rouge (EBR) Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome and Iberville Parish President Mitchell Ourso announced their recommendation to improve drainage along Bayou Manchac at the border of the two parishes. As of Wednesday, six pumps were operating with two more on the way. There have been a lot of fights about who should take on the water and flood. That combination left homes in the basin stranded and flooded for weeks in August 2016 and again in May and has prompted dramatic but controversial emergency steps by Ascension and Iberville officials, like inflatable AquaDams and repeated cuts in the levee road, to protect people living in the swamp basin. provided to the NWS by the gauge owner. Gonzales is one of the lucky ones who is staying dry. The parish presidents of East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Iberville parishes want the Pontchartrain Levee District to take the lead in a plan t, State leaders are seeking federal support in the aftermath of severe rainfall and flooding that devastated many parts of South Louisiana, dama, GONZALESAbout a week after Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment balked at pursuing post-flood drainage and development changes becaus. President Clint Cointment said his office is monitoring the river gauges along Bayou Manchac. Rather than fighting, were working with the parishes on solutions like the ones announced in East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Iberville. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Anything that would reduce that flooding would help improve the forest's health, he said. Both have acted to make flooding last longer and go higher in the swamp, an LSU coastal researcher said, and has simultaneously raised the average water level in Manchac by one-tenth of a foot per year since the 1970s. ASCENSION PARISH, La. you sure about that.. Photo provided by Ascension Parish government, Raw sewage, shin-deep, oozes in streets, homes when Baton Rouge plant fails: 'It's so nasty', Hurricane Ida shows how FEMA, other bureaucracy can slow down waterway clean-up after storms. Ascension consulting engineers have proposed linking New River with the southern end of the Bluff Swamp at a chronic low spot at La. Paul Kemp, who has studied the Bluff Swamp as LSU coastal sciences professor, said longer periods of flooding don't allow cypress and hardwood seedlings to take root. I just felt it was a matter of time until we flood again, says one homeowner off Bluff Road. " Ascension on the Bayou has created not just a high-end apartment complex, but a wonderful community experience which makes it a truly unique and desirable place to live. Those living around Bluff and Ridge Road saw it all when it came to flooding, Had we had this under control back in the beginning of May or late April, we wouldnt be here talking about this right now, says one man who lives off Shadow Ridge Lane. Still flooded from last week's storm, Ascension to 'cut,' close roads to help drain like in 2016. Photo provided by Ascension Parish government, Slow-draining Spanish Lake, Bluff Swamp leave residents stranded; AquaDams stand tall in court, Ascension considers new plan to dredge historic, scenic Bayou Manchac, Corps: Bayou, creek upgrades in Baton Rouge won't worsen Amite flooding; Ascension still opposed, Well before floods in Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp, Ascension, Iberville eyed important fix. Stream LIVE news here. Elevate your experience and lifestyle in Houston with our incomparable community features, wonderfully endless amenities and exemplary service. Flood of Record occurred on August 15, 2016. 74 and Bluff Road in Dutchtown. In the latest incident, only some water got over the road before Iberville Parish was able to install inflatable AquaDams on the road, Iberville officials have said. Fax: (225) 442-1736, 908 East 1st Street The drugstore Southern University loses power before men's Senior Night basketball game. N. prd inc The parish said earlier this week it was using three pumps, with three more on standby, in that area to facilitate drainage. This lot sits on the popular Amite River/Diversion Canal right at the wei. Some of the pumps are run by tractors. He installed an AquaDam around his home to keep it from flooding. 5 reviews of Ascension on the Bayou "This place is amazing!!! The aim was to control water levels in the Spanish Lake Basin to protect landowners, hardwood forests and to restore the flooded, 80-acre Cypress Flats to a . We believe our homes, businesses and families should not be flooding. A new pump station at the Mississippi would draw water from the swamp through New River and a newly dug canal into the "big muddy.". He noted other concepts, including a stalled idea in the mid-2000s to put a pump and floodgate across Manchac, just haven't shown the benefit necessary to compete for dollars and generate political momentum. On this channel I will: Review expressions of scotch, primarily single malt scotch whisky Dive into educational topics about whisky Share the bounty of culture of Louisiana Feature my travels through Scotland Show that whisky is not pretentious nor is it only a \"man's drink.\" Whisky is the aquavitae - water of life - for those of age to enjoy, responsibly. Utilizing federal funding opportunities, information from constituents, and ideas from discussions will move us toward solutions faster. FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layers not showing? Nearly a week after heavy rain doused the Baton Rouge region, houses remained surrounded by flood water on Monday and stood as islands in the . HNTB officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment. But what I think is that we haven't yet taken and addressed those means to determine whether or not it's going to be satisfactory to meet the requirements of any 100-year flood," Rosso said. Police: Two men shot to death in Slidell late Saturday morning. Our elegant and spacious apartments provide the perfect living space, with all the high-end features youd expect. Winds will ease into the evening. Jonathan H. Instead, efforts need to be focused on getting the water out and these announcements are the first steps in that process. "The problem is really understanding, you know, what drives the flood risk and where the flood risk is and what's going to change the flood risk is, obviously, complicated or people would have solved it long before now," Jacobsen said. They noticed the water getting lower immediately once the pumps were active, but it will take several weeks to move the volume of water from the basin. This is the perfect weekend to get outdoors! In the statement Wednesday, Ascension Parish officials said that workers would monitor weather forecasts and have Public Works crews station at the site of the road cut to fill it and block water flow if Bayou Manchac again rises to 14 feet. On Wednesday, Parish President Clint Cointment said the Ascension Department of Public Works plans to cut Alligator Bayou Road at Fish Bayou to facilitate drainage from Spanish Lake and Bluff Swamp basin. Say that much water. Homes in the huge, bowl-shaped basin of roughly 17,000 acres are either flooded or surrounded by high water, which is draining slowly through a handful of existing floodgates and portable pumps recently installed by Ascension crews. Clint Cointment, EBR Mayor-President. Stream LIVE news here. The community here is incredible and the amenities are beyond expectation. Three pumps, red objections on right, background, siphon water from the Bluff Swamp and send into Bayou Manchac early Monday, May 24, 2021, in an attempt to lower high water levels in the swamp basin. %PDF-1.5 3 0 obj Why aren't the FEMA National Flood Hazard Layers showing on the ESRI Map?Possible reasons: Note: Your zoom level may have changed. Port Allen Pelicans basketball team soaring toward fourth-straight state title, Sample duo leading Scotlandville into playoffs, For help accessing the WBRZ-TV Public File, contact: Joey Verrett at, The implications of Walgreens' decision on abortion pills. The people who live in Bluff Swamp began flooding late last week from rain and drainage in the swamp region west of Bluff Road. Watch the 2 Your Health report for Thursday, Watch the 2 Your Health report for Tuesday, Crawfish Tracker: Signs of life (and price drops). "What does that do for those districts that are residing along the Bayou Manchac? Major Flooding Moderate Flooding Minor Flooding Near Flood Stage No Flooding Observations Are Not Current Out of Service Flood Category Not Defined At or Below Low Water Threshold Last map update: 03/03/2023 at 04:52:41 am CST 03/03/2023 at 10:52:41 UTC What is UTC time? Read the original story below. With quick backdoor access to Houston's treasured Terry Hershey Park, our residents are all set for working out, picnicking, or just enjoying the . A home is protected by an AquaDam on Bluff Road in Ascension Parish as the area continues to deal with flooding problems on Monday May 24, 2021. But in order to get to his house he has to drive through high water. Southern men's basketball falls to Alabama A&M Southern men's basketball falls to Alabama A&M on Senior Day 68-65. x[[o6~7,lEH]EN] E }PdG[y4v_BJNP(og?z'"TEg\'2tf9+z~&D Together, the floodgate, levee and ridge are designed to prevent backwater, which rises from the Amite when it is high, from flowing upstream into Henderson Bayou and flooding northeast Ascension. As growth has continued to sprawl around the swamp basin, more roofs and concrete have sent more runoff into the basin. Under the leadership of U.S. Rep. Garret Graves, R-Baton Rouge, officials in Ascension, Iberville and East Baton Rouge also have agreed to look at other ideas to alleviate Manchac flooding. % Come join me on this adventure. On May 19, Ascension Parish officials approved the construction bid for two new floodgates where Fish Bayou joins Bayou Manchac just downstream from Iberville's gate. Instead, efforts need to be focused on getting the water out and these announcements are the first steps in that process. Also, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said the idea would also likely prompt an extensive permitting review because it will affect the hydrology of a large wetland area containing federal land banks set up to compensate for wetlands loss elsewhere in Louisiana. Two additional 30-inch pumps were expected to arrive later on Wednesday. Untreated wastewater oozed onto residential streets and into several dozen homes after a sewage plant in southern East Baton Rouge Parish fail, Hurricane Ida clogged streams, rivers and bayous with tree branches and other debris, which local leaders worry could make those waterways mor. (WAFB) - In May 2021, David Braud had to make extensive repairs to his home because of flooding. Visit https://www.weather.gov/owp/operations for access to new EXPERIMENTAL products and services from the National Water Center: National Hydrologic Discussion, Area Hydrologic Discussion, Flood Hazard Outlook and the National Water Center Visualization Services, a suite of geospatial services depicting River Forecast Center and National Water Model information. 1 0 obj Levees? Highly recommend this place to call home!! Scott Nesbit, who manages the 4,000-acre Spanish Lake Restoration wetlands bank in the Bluff Swamp, agreed with Kemp, saying the land bank would support the idea as long as the proposed Bluff and Willow Glen pumps are managed properly. Scotch on the Bayou Historic Flooding in Bayou Pigeon, Louisiana - May, 2021 In this video, witness the historic level of flooding in Bayou Sorrel and. Ascension Parish officials made the cut to alleviate flooding in the region. The plan already has received mixed reviews from some Ascension officials.