Posted on July 17, 2024
The first construction contract is valued at $8.4 million and funded exclusively with state dollars. The cost to construct the Maurepas project in its entirety is valued at over $300 million and will utilize $190 million in funds from fines associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as well as other state only funds.
BATON ROUGE, La. – Today, the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) awarded the contract for the first construction increment of the River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp project (MSP). South-Louisiana-based Phylway Construction, LLC will complete “Reach 6” of the project, which includes clearing, excavating, and building guide levees through approximately three miles of Hope Canal between U.S. 61, Airline Highway, and Interstate 10.
“Groundbreaking partnerships have allowed us to maximize resources, saving time and money and setting a new standard for future environmental restoration efforts,” said CPRA Chairman Gordon “Gordy” Dove. “The Maurepas Swamp Project has been a priority for Louisiana for over 20 years since its inception under the Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act program, and its positive impact will secure the future survival of these wetlands and the ecosystems and communities they support.”
The MSP is a 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) freshwater diversion located on the East Bank of the Mississippi River in St. John the Baptist Parish, just west of Garyville, Louisiana. The project will reconnect the Mississippi River to the Maurepas Swamp and revitalize over 45,000 acres with freshwater, sediment and nutrients to nourish the area, one of the largest and last remaining coastal freshwater swamps in Louisiana.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will utilize approximately 9,000 acres of the benefitted wetlands as swamp mitigation for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain project, a 18.5-mile comprehensive levee system and joint effort of CPRA, USACE, the Pontchartrain Levee District, and St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, and St. James parishes. The Maurepas project was selected due to the projects’ in basin swamp benefits, marking the first time the USACE has used a CPRA-constructed restoration project as mitigation.
“This project represents a historic collaboration between CPRA and the USACE, showcasing our shared commitment to innovative and effective environmental restoration,” said CPRA Executive Director Glenn Ledet, Jr. “The tireless efforts of CPRA, our local sponsor the Pontchartrain Levee District, the USACE, and numerous state and parish officials, along with local and national environmental organizations, have been instrumental in advancing this project. Together, we are achieving significant milestones in preserving our wetlands, enhancing biodiversity, and protecting our communities.”
“USACE remains invested in providing critical flood risk reduction to 60,000 residents and businesses while also restoring the critical ecosystem in the area with this project.”, said Bradley Drouant, Branch Chief, Army Corps of Engineers New Orleans District. “The partnership between USACE and CPRA on the Maurepas diversion fulfills that goal by providing mitigation for levee construction that will support healthy wetlands and also increase the resiliency of the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain project.”
“The partnership between nearly every level of government to get these projects to this milestone demonstrates our constant commitment to the people,” said Pontchartrain Levee District Executive Director Monica Salins Gorman. “The financial efficiency in implementing WSLP and Maurepas together, while also preserving wetlands, sustaining ecosystems, and maintaining overall flood risk reduction for this area, is a tremendous achievement.”
The first construction contract is valued at $8.4 million and funded exclusively with state dollars. The cost to construct the Maurepas project in its entirety is valued at over $300 million and will utilize $190 million in funds from fines associated with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill as well as other state only funds.
The remainder of the conveyance channel between Airline Highway and the Mississippi River, along with Reaches 111-113 of WSLP, are currently in final design. Both projects are currently scheduled to be completed by the end of 2028.
