Posted on April 16, 2025
New Orleans, La. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District, brought stakeholders together to sign a partnership agreement for the Comite River Diversion Project, Brooks Lake Guide Levee Feature, on Friday, April 11 at the LA State Police Joint Training Facility in Baton Rouge, LA. At the ceremony, all parties reconfirmed their commitment in delivering the project for the residents and businesses located in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and Ascension Parishes. The non-federal partner signatories present at the ceremony were the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the Louisiana State Police, East Baton Rouge Parish, and Amite River Basin Commission.
“Over the years, I have worked to secure funding for the project. This diversion protects communities along the Comite and Amite Rivers. It reduces the risk of flood damage. It is long overdue. When complete, it will lower flood insurance premiums. This will bring peace of mind to residents and businesses who have been paying their share of this project through a dedicated tax for decades,” said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy.
“The Comite River Diversion Project will provide a huge boost for flood control efforts in the Capital Region. I’m proud to support such a critical initiative to mitigate the effects of the severe storms that Louisiana knows all too well,” said Congresswoman Julia Letlow.
The Army Corps and the non-federal partners agree to work together to ensure that they are fully aware of issues and engaged in resolutions as well as the decision-making process. To facilitate a working partnering relationship, delivery team meetings between the Corps and the non-federal sponsors will be held on a regular basis (generally monthly), and higher-level Project Coordination Team meetings and strategic partnership meetings will be held as requested. The delivery teams will work to resolve issues in an expeditious manner and identify any outstanding issues that require higher level resolution or are impeding progress.
“The key to any successful partnership is to have a common goal, in this case, the successful design, construction,
real estate acquisition, and operation of the Brooks Lake Guide Levee,” said Colonel Cullen A. Jones, United States Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans District. “The Corps is thrilled to sign onto this partnership agreement recognizing that partnering is built on respect and trust that is developed through a productive working relationship and frequent, open, candid, transparent and respectful communications.”
“On behalf of DOTD, we’re thrilled to continue our strong working relationship with the Army Corps of Engineers, especially on a project as monumental as this one,” said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Joe Donahue. “The importance of the diversion canal cannot be overstated, as it will greatly reduce flooding in the Baton Rouge region. Our department is proud to combine such a project with improved infrastructure in the form of new bridges over the canal. We thank the corps for their immense effort in making the diversion canal a reality for our citizens.”
“Louisiana State Police is proud to collaborate with our partners and stakeholders as this project continues. Our shared mission of ensuring community safety and improvement is paramount, and our agency remains committed. Therefore, we are more than happy to provide our facilities to help ensure the successful completion of this project,” said Colonel Robert P. Hodges, Superintendent, Louisiana State Police.
“This project has been one of the most talked about projects in the area. We look forward to this project completion so many of the residents in our region will see the benefits of flood reduction,” said Mayor Sid Edwards, East Baton Rouge Parish.
The parties signing the agreement have made a commitment to problem solving so that, to the extent practicable, the parties have an understanding on decisions before they are made. The parties also commit to bring issues to the table, ongoing coordination, and to periodically evaluate the partnering commitments to ensure and maintain an ongoing, long-term working relationship.
“We are glad to join our Comite Diversion partners to emphasize our support and express our sense of urgency to complete this vital project. The Amite Basin partners – Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, St. Helena and St. James Parishes – are equally emphatic about our sense of urgency, and we are rallying together like never before in history around our Master Plan to address all flood risks in the Amite Basin – from Mississippi to Maurepas and Colyell to Comite – with $100 million in project funding and more to come,” said Amite River Basin Commission President John Clark.
The Corps and the non-federal partners commit to resolving issues at the lowest level possible, within the delivery teams. When they have made efforts to agree at those levels and acknowledge that there is disagreement, all parties commit to elevating the issue to the appropriate level for timely resolution. Decisions should be made in a manner that is informed, quick, final, collaborative, and goal-oriented.
The Comite River Diversion Project is located in East Baton Rouge Parish, LA in the southern portion of the Comite River Basin. The Project will provide urban flood risk reduction from rainfall events/headwater flooding for residents in this watershed. The primary project features include a control structure at the Comite River, a control structure at Lilly Bayou, three control rock chutes at the intersections of the diversion channel with White, Cypress and Bayou Baton Rouge Bayous, clearing and snagging of each bayou, two railroad bridges, four highway bridges, and one parish road bridge. The Non-Federal Sponsor, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LADOTD) is responsible for the construction of three highway and one railroad bridge.
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ComiteRiverDiversion
- Website: https://www.mvn.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/Comite-River-Diversion/
