MAC President Pushes for Federal Funding for Morganza to the Gulf on Capitol Hill
"I encourage Congress to step up and invest in building the
Morganza to the Gulf levee protection project." - MAC President Jay Walker
Local banker and Morganza Action Coalition (MAC) President Jay Walker testified before the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis on July 25, urging Congress to fund the estimated $3.4 billion Morganza to the Gulf levee protection system.
"The Morganza to the Gulf levee protection project is an investment that the citizens of my community have made to build resiliency to the climate crisis. Is there a cost? Yes, but the cost of NOT building, and preparing are much greater. I encourage Congress to step up and invest in building the Morganza to the Gulf levee protection project, which in the end will save taxpayers billions of dollars," Walker told committee members.
Congressman Garret Graves, who represents northern Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, serves as the ranking member of the select committee and has pushed for federal money for Morganza.
With funding from the North Lafourche and Terrebonne levee districts, the South Lafourche Levee District is building a portion of the levee along Grand Bayou that connects to the South Lafourche system in Cut Off. As SLLD's Windell Curole explains, the levee will protect north Lafourche and Terrebonne, as well as the route to Port Fourchon from storm surge.
Terracing Protected Levees During Hurricane Barry
Fly-over video after Hurricane Barry
The completed levees built along the Morganza to the Gulf alignment stood strong during Tropical Storm and Hurricane Barry July 12 and 13. While the storm brought a nine-foot surge to the area,
all Morganza levees built to 12 feet withstood the force and protected our community.
The levees had some protection as well; a wetlands terracing project in southern Terrebonne buffered the surge before it hit the levees. LA CPRA staff took this video of the terracing project during a fly-over in the area after Hurricane Barry.
By the 2020 hurricane season,
all levees along the Morganza alignment between Falgout Canal and
Pointe-aux-Chenes should be completed to an elevation of 12 feet.
LA Attorney General Tours Morganza Levees
Parish President Dove, Attorney General Landry, and Project Manager Mitch Marmande
Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry toured Morganza levees and levee projects with
Terrebonne Parish President Gordy Dove and Project Manager Mitch Marmande on July 2.
"Our coast and our waterways are vital to Louisiana's economy and way of life, said Landry. "I understand that protecting Louisiana includes protecting our coast."
MAC at Terrebonne Parish Coastal Day
The Morganza Action Coalition participated in Terrebonne Parish Coastal Day on June 19 at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, along with the Terrebonne, North Lafourche and South Lafourche levee districts, which are MAC members.
In addition to information booths, equipment displays, and presentations on coastal issues, the event featured a visit by LA Governor John Bel Edwards, who discussed the importance of levee protection and coastal restoration to our state and presented an award to Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District President Tony Alford for his service.
Parish President and Terrebonne Levee District on HTV's Going Public June 25
Terrebonne Parish President Gordy Dove, along with Terrebonne Levee & Conservation District President Tony Alford and Executive Director Reggie Dupre talked about Coastal Day and presented host Jason Dagate with a plaque honoring his father, the late Jimmy Dagate, on the June 25 edition of HTV's "Going Public."
Your membership contribution to MAC helps to sustain our federal lobbying efforts and strengthen MAC's public outreach. Your contribution makes our call for support of Morganza and other flood protection projects in our area even LOUDER!
The Morganza Action Coalition is a 501(c)(4) corporation founded in 2006 by Terrebonne Parish residents and business leaders who recognize the importance of the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection System to the continued survivability, economic viability and growth of our region. Today, MAC advocates for comprehensive levee protection for Terrebonne & Lafourche Parishes.
MAC relies on financial contributions from local businesses and individuals to support these advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C. and in Baton Rouge, as well as to fund outreach and communication activities to gain public support for the Morganza to the Gulf Hurricane Protection System and levee projects in North and South Lafourche.
