Late this summer, Morganza Action Coalition, alongside our levee districts and CPRA, hosted Adam Telle, the new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Assistant Secretary for Army (ASA) for Civil Works (pictured center right) and Major General Jason Kelly, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations (pictured right of ASA Telle), in Houma to discuss expediting the build-out of the Morganza to the Gulf Risk Reduction System (MTG). We were also pleased to host with ASA Telle, Mr. Lee Forsgren, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (pictured center left), as well as our new New Orleans District Commander Scotty Autin.

Most recently, we have put a great deal of advocacy effort into helping the Corps utilize authorities it has to move forward with local sponsors to construct certain portions of the project, for example, earthen levees. We are confident MtG's inclusion within this pilot program will demonstrate the efficiencies that local sponsors can bring to expedited delivery. The Corps and local sponsors, with MAC’s engagement, are aligned in the success that will come from moving funding to the local sponsor.

Morganza Action Coalition (MAC) continues to advocate for Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Risk Reductions annual appropriations through the federal Community Project Funding Program.

Looking forward to Fiscal Year 2026, we currently have $131.5 million within the House-passed Energy and Water appropriations measure that cleared the chamber on September 4, 2025. The Senate version of the bill was posted online on November 24, 2025.

While we were disappointed to only see $6 million in the construction account for Morganza in the Senate version, it is important to note that the $131.5 million secured in the House-passed bill will be fully funded if and when Congress is able to enact a full-year Energy and Water funding bill. We do not anticipate any formal consideration of the Senate version by the Senate Appropriations Committee, rather it will be informally conferenced with the House-passed measure and hopefully included in the next funding package that comes before the Senate.

While it is not necessary to be included in both the House and the Senate bills to receive funding, it is imperative that Congress enact a full-year Energy and Water Development appropriations bill to fund the Community Project Funding requests, including the $131.5 million dedicated to Morganza. We are fortunate to have our entire delegation’s support of this critical project and are encouraged by the central role a bipartisan path forward on the annual appropriations process played in reopening the federal government last month after the longest shutdown in history. 

Thank you to all MAC members and partners

who make this progress possible, and members of our Congressional Delegation who advocate for our region and this project throughout the year!

Over the past year, MAC has been instrumental in securing funding for the continued build-out of the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Risk Reduction System. We successfully advocated for $8 million in federal funding and $40 million within the current Louisiana state budget. These accomplishments have come from our efforts working alongside our local levee districts and CPRA.

Thank you to our legislative delegation and

Governor Landry's administration for continued funding of our hurricane risk reduction system.

Construction advances on Phase 2 of the Houma Navigation Canal Lock Complex, the most critical environmental structure in the Morganza to the Gulf (MTG) Hurricane Risk Reduction System. The project is currently 37% complete.

Pictured in the center right of the above photo is the cement access bridge that will go out to the Operations Building. On the left side of the photo you can see that the gulf-side cofferdam is formed out and the cement was recently poured. 

The large-scale hydrologic restoration project will limit saltwater intrusion and distribute freshwater within the Terrebonne Basin, allowing for the maintenance of thousands of acres of wetlands, which serve as critical wildlife habitat and nurseries for fisheries.

The HNC Lock Complex will also close one of the few remaining gaps in the MtG system, which uses a mix of levees, floodgates, and locks to protect 200,000 Terrebonne and Lafourche residents from potentially deadly storm surge. Completion of Phase 2 is anticipated in 2027.

The Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District (TLCD) is working to raise completed levees within the MtG system to 15+ feet with local dollars and LA CPRA funding. This increased height will provide additional flood protection to 200,000 area residents, businesses and critical infrastructure. TLCD is using in-house assets to raise Upper Reach I (pictured above).

TLCD is barging in material to raise the H2/H3 levee segments to 15 foot elevation. As pictured above, a long-reach electric crane transfers the material from the barge to the base of the levee.

Reach K from Pointe-Aux-Chenes eastward to Grand Bayou Floodgate (pictured above) is being lifted to 11+ feet, and rip rap is being placed at critical areas that are vulnerable to wave action.

Reach L in Lafourche Parish ties into the South Lafourche Levee District system and now includes a floodwall and waskey bridge through/over 4 major pipelines that the levee alignment crosses.

The waskey bridge is essentially complete in this photo above with a yellow crane on top of it, in the protected side of the floodwall. It will allow levee officials to cross 18-wheeled trucks loaded with dirt over the pipelines for subsequent levee lifts on west side of the floodwall going all the way to Grand Bayou Floodgate.

The floodwall and crane trestle installations continue. Pipeline wall penetration work is set to begin. The floodwall is being built to 16 foot elevation.

Eastern Tie-In Levee Reaches

From Larose to Lockport Advance

The MAC Board of Directors and Executive Director Henri Boulet wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

We look forward to partnering with you in 2026 to advance the Morganza system and provide the protection Terrebonne and Lafourche residents and businesses need and deserve.

Your membership in MAC sustains our advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. and Baton Rouge, and strengthens public outreach and communication activities to advance local levee protection in Terrebonne and Lafourche.

Morganza Action Coalition

Henri Boulet, Executive Director

henri@morganza.org

985-258-1399

www.Morganza.org