ENROLLED
Page 1 of 2
Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 207
BY REPRESENTATIVES SAM JONES, BALDONE, DOVE, HARRISON, AND ST.
GERMAIN
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct a permanent
flood control structure on Bayou Chene.
WHEREAS, this spring's heavy rains in the mid and lower Mississippi River valley
and snow melt farther upstream lead to extraordinary flooding on the nation's largest river;
and
WHEREAS, the rising of the water level on the Mississippi River and the subsequent
stress placed upon the levee systems required that the United States Army Corps of
Engineers open the floodgates on the Morganza Spillway to alleviate levee overtopping; and
WHEREAS, on May 6, 2011, the St. Mary Levee District, St. Mary Parish
Government, Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government, Terrebonne Levee and
Conservation District, Morgan City, and the town of Berwick requested an emergency
permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers for a project to close Bayou Chene,
which was granted within twenty-four hours; and
WHEREAS, the project entailed the installation of sheet-piling, submerging a barge
behind the sheet-piling to provide fortification and placing rock along the waterway's banks;
and
WHEREAS, the flood waters would contact the sheet-piling, lowering its access and
velocity, and empty into the area marshes where the waters would drop sediment and
nutrients; and
WHEREAS, the project was successful and massive flooding in St. Mary, St. Martin,
Terrebonne, Assumption, Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee parishes was
averted; and ENROLLEDHCR NO. 207
Page 2 of 2
WHEREAS, a permanent structure placed to accomplish the task of the hastily
constructed barge structure would be a great benefit in future flood events and allow flood
fighting assets to be utilized elsewhere.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the United States Army Corps of Engineers to construct a permanent flood
control structure on Bayou Chene.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, Mississippi Valley Division.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE