HLS 11RS-2580 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 207
BY REPRESENTATIVES SAM JONES, BALDONE, DOVE, HARRISON, AND ST.
GERMAIN
FLOODING: Urges and requests the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to apply the success
of sinking the barge in Bayou Chene to prevent flooding
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct a permanent2
flood control structure on Bayou Chene.3
WHEREAS, this spring's heavy rains in the mid and lower Mississippi River valley4
and snow melt farther upstream lead to extraordinary flooding on the nation's largest river;5
and6
WHEREAS, the rising of the water level on the Mississippi River and the subsequent7
stress placed upon the levee systems required that the United States Army Corps of8
Engineers open the floodgates on the Morganza Spillway to alleviate levee overtopping; and9
WHEREAS, on May 6, 2011, the St. Mary Levee District, St. Mary Parish10
Government, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, Terrebonne Levee and11
Conservation District, Morgan City, and the town of Berwick requested an emergency12
permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers for a project to close Bayou Chene,13
which was granted within twenty-four hours; and14
WHEREAS, the project entailed the installation of sheet-piling, submerging a barge15
behind the sheet-piling to provide fortification and placing rock along the waterway's banks;16
and17
WHEREAS, the flood waters would contact the sheet-piling, lowering its access and18
velocity, and empty into the area marshes where the waters would drop sediment and19
nutrients; and20 HLS 11RS-2580 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 207
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WHEREAS, the project was successful and massive flooding in St. Mary, St. Martin,1
Terrebonne, Assumption, Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee parishes was2
averted; and3
WHEREAS, a permanent structure placed to accomplish the task of the hastily4
constructed barge structure would be a great benefit in future flood events and allow flood5
fighting assets to be utilized elsewhere.6
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby the7
urge and request the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct a permanent flood8
control structure on Bayou Chene.9
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted10
to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division.11
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Sam Jones HCR No. 207
Urges and requests the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a permanent flood control
structure on Bayou Chene.