The Challenge
The eastern portion of St. Mary Parish, along with portions of Terrebonne, Assumption, Lafourche, and St. Martin Parishes, required a permanent solution to backwater flooding at times of high water in the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers.
The Solution
Following the success of the emergency closure project on Bayou Chene in 2011, St. Mary Levee District decided to utilize nearly an identical alignment for a permanent flood control project. The system includes a steel barge gate at Bayou Chene, three canal closures/water control structures, and approximately nine miles of flanking levees and floodwalls, which will connect the structure with the Bayou Boeuf locks. T. Baker Smith (TBS) was responsible for planning, floodwall and levee design, water control structures, pipeline canal closures, dredging, demolition of existing structures, and shoreline stabilization. TBS also acquired permits for restoration work associated with the initial emergency structure; approximately 300 cypress seedlings were planted on Avoca Island.