Governor Edwards Commits $350M to Louisiana Coastal Program

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards has announced his plans to designate more than $350 million in coastal dollars, including $55 million from FY18 surplus dollars to Louisiana’s coastal trust fund. 

Governor John Bel Edwards

Within those surplus dollars, $15 million will be allocated to effectively restore the funds previously swept by the previous Administration.

Edwards also committed $30 million in surplus to be used to meet the state’s lands-related obligation, allowing the $760 million West Shore Lake Pontchartrain hurricane protection project to move forward.

The remaining $10 million will go to increase the footprint of restoration projects already underway.

“I made a commitment, that under my watch, coastal dollars would be used for coastal projects. Given the opportunity to return funding that never should have been taken is one wrong I am happy to right,” Edwards said. “The Coastal Trust Fund is one of the few allowable recipients of surplus dollars – and for good reason. The trust fund allows us to leverage the additional $30 million in surplus funds we’re investing today to unlock $760 million in federal funding to provide flood protection benefits for tens of thousands of our people.” 

“The West Shore Lake Pontchartrain project study was first authorized in 1971, and the hard working people of this region have been waiting to see progress ever since. When the federal government recently made the full cost to construct the project available to the Corps, we were determined to meet the State’s obligations on the lands side as quickly as possible in order to keep this project on schedule, so we can help better protect the people of this region,” added Chip Kline, the governor’s executive assistant for coastal activities.

GOMESA projects FY20, FY21, FY22:

  • $22 million in GOMESA revenues will be used to build or improve levees and critical components of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection System in Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes through the North Lafourche, South Lafourche, and Terrebonne Levee Districts;
  • $11 million to build levees and provide critical flood protection to Jean Lafitte in the Rosethorne basin area;
  • $10 million for levee repair work in Grand Isle;
  • $35 million for a critical pump station in Bayou Lafourche that will provide freshwater to the marshes in Lafourche Parish;
  • $75 million to complete the design and fully construct the Bayou Chene flood control/storm surge flood gate located in St. Mary Parish, and while located in St. Mary Parish, this structure will help protect St. Mary, Terrebonne, Iberville, Lafourche and Iberia parishes;
  • $7.5 million drainage canal relocation as part of the New Orleans to Venice hurricane protection system in Plaquemines Parish;
  • $9 million to design the Slidell ring levee in St. Tammany Parish;
  • $12.5 million for the Sunset, Magnolia Ridge, and Davis pond levees as part of the Upper Barataria Risk Reduction System in St. Charles, Assumption and St. James Parishes;
  • $11.7 million for Goose Bayou (Penn Levee) in Jefferson Parish;
  • $1.5 million on 100-year Levee Lift: NOV-NF-W-4, Oakville to LaReusitte and MRL 179 (ED) in Plaquemines Parish over three years;
  • $2.5 million for Kellog Pump Station T-Wall in St. Charles Parish over three years;
  • $57.4 million for the Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex in Terrebonne Parish over three years.