For Immediate Release, Monday, November 14, 2005
Contact:  Suzanne Parsons Stymiest @ 985-898-5243

CLEARING OF WATERWAY DEBRIS BEGINS
Further Funding Needed To Complete Projects

             Clearing of debris in parish waterways to mitigate the risk of further flooding is underway on small, but critical, projects such as emergency removal of debris under bridges.  St. Tammany Parish Government officials are working to obtain federal funds to clean major waterways before the rainy season begins. 

                Under an exigency program, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, a federal agency, is clearing debris from some critical waterways. St. Tammany Parish selected its priority areas in consultation with NRCS officials based on population density and natural drainage propensity. Simultaneously, the parish hopes that federal funding for NRCS will be approved, allowing the parish to qualify for a larger scope Emergency Watershed Protection program. 

                “We are also seeking FEMA approval for debris clean up in our waterways,” said Parish President Kevin Davis.  “We cannot wait too much longer to begin clearing our rivers and bayous.  Springs rains could flood St. Tammany if waterways aren’t cleared and damage much of our rebuilding efforts after Katrina.  We are exploring every avenue available to us.” 

NRCS contracts have either begun, or completed, clearing waterways in these areas: Poor Boy Canal near Pearl River; the Abita River; Pontchatolowa Creek; Bayou Tete L’Ours; Mile Branch Creek and Simpson Creek in the Covington area; Little Bayou Castine in Mandeville; and Big Branch Bayou in Lacombe.  These contracts are focusing on specific areas of damage, not necessarily the entire waterway. 

                “We have requested assistance from FEMA, NRCS and the Corps of Engineers to either clear our waterways or give us the funding to clear these waterways,” said parish Chief Administrative Officer Bill Oiler.  “Our local funds are not sufficient to cover these critical cleaning tasks.  We need Federal assistance.  We have requested assistance through the FEMA debris contracting process, and assistance from NRCS and the Corps for this project.  We have not received a definitive response to date.” 

                “Clearing the network of waterways in St. Tammany is a monumental task,” said Parish President Kevin Davis. “It is vitally important to public safety and to preserving our natural resources. We are using all available Public Works assets on this problem but the hurricane damage is far greater than our current recovery resources.” 

Crews from the Public Works Department of Parish Government have begun or completed work in the following areas: waterways between Military Road and I-59; Gum Bayou in the Alton community; Magnolia Forest and Hidden Oaks subdivisions near Pearl River; Hillcrest subdivision near Abita Springs; Rosedown, Mayhaw Branch, Greenleaves, Woodridge and Pineland Park subdivisions in the Mandeville area; Coin du Lestin, French Branch, Pearl Acres and Avery Estates subdivisions in the Slidell area; Cloverland and Barringer Road in Lacombe; and Crestwood and Tammany Hills near Covington.

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