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P.0. Box 5418310 W. 2nd St
Thibodaux LA, 70301
Press Releases and Newsletters
Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District Authorizes Contractor to Begin Weir Demolition
| Post Date | Updated At |
|---|---|
| Thursday, Jan. 07th at 11:03 AM | Thursday, Jan. 07th at 11:04 AM |
Phone: 446-7606
Email: grants@ci.thibodaux.la.us
The Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District has authorized
Sealevel Construction to proceed with the Thibodaux weir removal project. The
initial work will take place at the City of Thibodaux’s water treatment
facility and will begin in early January. The weir demolition is scheduled to
begin in late February and completed by mid-2021. Pedestrian traffic, some
bayou-side vehicular parking spaces, boat traffic, and fishing will be
restricted around the immediate area during utility relocation, equipment
mobilization, and weir demolition. Long-term closure of La Highway 1 is not
expected.
As part of the MRRBL (Mississippi River Reintroduction into
Bayou Lafourche) series of projects, the removal of the weir plays a critical
role in the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District’s ability to pump more fresh
water into the Bayou Lafourche to protect our endangered coast due to saltwater
intrusion. The only true long-term mitigation for this continued encroachment
is to increase the fresh water supply into Bayou Lafourche from the Mississippi
River, and removal of the weir is a large part of the MRRBL project list.
The Thibodaux weir was constructed in 1969 to create a water
reservoir for water treatment facilities and sugar mills north of the weir.
While it has served its original purpose, it has not only impeded the flow of
water in Bayou Lafourche, but also prevents boat access in Bayou Lafourche
which is not only a major impediment to the operations of BLFWD but also a
major impediment to the recreational boaters of the bayou region. With the
Lockport Water Control Structure in place, and the Assumption Parish Water
Control structure recently completed, the water elevations of Bayou Lafourche
can be safely managed without needing the weir in Thibodaux. In addition to coastal
erosion benefits, removal of the weir will greatly increase the recreational
potential in the bayou.
In August of 2019, the BLFWD hired Duplantis Design Group to
perform the survey, regulatory compliance, demolition plan, and permitting for
removal of the weir, and in May of 2020 the Lafourche Parish Council approved a
Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Bayou Lafourche Fresh Water District to
provide $1.3 million of the parish’s GOMESA funds towards the project.
Archie Chaisson III, Lafourche Parish President said
“Lafourche Parish is proud to partner with the BLFWD on the removal of the
weir. This is a project that we have all worked on and dreamed of for years and
to finally see it become a reality is exciting. This project will not only open
up the bayou for better flow but the impacts to the recreational use of Bayou
Lafourche will be tremendous.”
Ben Malbrough, Executive Director of the Bayou Lafourche
Fresh Water District, said “The Weir Removal Project has been a priority
project for BLFWD for quite some time. With the completion of several other
necessary projects in the bayou, the weir can now be removed without
jeopardizing our region’s water supply.”