State advances Bayou Lafourche barrier project

Pictured front row, left to right: Benny Roussell of DNR, Alvin Hebert, Board President of the Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District, DNR Secretary Scott Angelle, Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph and Archie Chiasson, Director of the Bayou Lafourche Freshwater District. Back row, left to right: Councilman Philip Gouaux, Councilman Michael Matherne, Councilman Daniel Lorraine, Councilman Tommy Lasseigne, Councilman Tyrone Williams, Councilman Lindel Toups, Councilman Michael Delatte and Councilman Mark Atzenhoffer.

La. Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle will announce the commencement of the Bayou Lafourche Saltwater Control Structure project in Lafourche parish on Tuesday, October 9th.

At the Lafourche Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, DNR Secretary Angelle is scheduled to make a presentation with Parish President Charlotte Randolph marking the contractual signing that will provide the parish $4 million for engineering, design and construction of the flood gate project.

The project is funded in the state’s FY 2008 budget for coastal restoration and protection. The removable barrier in Bayou Lafourche north of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway at LaRose is intended to prevent upstream movement of salt water during low flow periods.

The council meeting will be held at 1612 Highway 182, Suite 100, Raceland, starting at 5 pm.

Editors: For more information, contact the DNR Public Information Office at 225-342-8955.