In a report tonight to the St. Helena Parish Police Jury, a representative of the Amite River Basin Commission (ARBC) highlighted efforts with Congresswoman Julia Letlow to restore areas of the Amite River that will reduce flood risk and improve quality of life. The report also detailed ARBC’s “year of firsts.”
ARBC Executive Director Paul Sawyer reported on $2,000,000 secured by Congresswoman Julia Letlow in congressional agriculture spending that will partner the ARBC with the federal Natural Resources Conservation Service on projects to restore sections of the Amite River to natural conditions, resulting in lower flood risk and increased protection.
“Congresswoman Julia Letlow recognizes the importance of flood control and quality of life improvements in St. Helena Parish and throughout the Amite River Basin,” said Sawyer. “Her $2 million investment in Upper Amite restoration will help protect homes and communities in the seven-parish basin and enable the ARBC to restore sections of the river that will reduce flood risk, and one day, we believe, provide recreational opportunities for citizens in the region.”
Sawyer also provided an update on 2025 as ARBC’s year of firsts:
- First ever comprehensive basin-wide flood master plan;
- First ever state capital outlay funding for flood risk reduction in the Upper Amite River Basin ($67,000,000)
- First ever comprehensive effort to lower flood risk and protect communities in the Lower Amite River Basin ($100,000,000);
- First ever multi-parish, plus major city, partnership on Bayou Manchac Project.
Sawyer explained that under the leadership of ARBC President John Clark (Iberville Parish), ARBC will ramp up momentum of these firsts in 2026:
- Bayou Manchac Channel Improvements ($30,000,000) – first major effort by Ascension, East Baton Rouge and Iberville Parishes and the City of St. George to reduce flood risk in the densely populated Bayou Manchac watershed;
- Lower Amite Sediment Removal ($20,000,000) – Livingston Parish is leading the first effort in more than 50 years to restore the Amite River’s natural channel and improve drainage;
- New River Pump ($40,000,000) – Led by Ascension Parish to redirect flood waters outside the Amite River Basin into the Mississippi River, much like the Comite River Diversion Canal;
- St. James Connector Levee ($10,000,000) – St. James Parish is leading this effort to improve the massive West Shore Lake Pontchartrain project by connecting levee protection to the Grand Point and Gramercy population centers.
St. Helena Parish Police Jury President and ARBC Commissioner Ryan Byrd stated, “2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the tragic 2016 Floods. The ARBC and Capital Region will mark this solemn occasion by mobilizing more flood protection work in the Amite Basin than ever before. And I will work with the ARBC, my parish partners, and all stakeholders to ensure St. Helena’s interests remain a priority.”
Tonight’s ARBC report is the second Upper Amite River Basin year-end report. A previous summary was presented to the East Feliciana Parish Police Jury on November 17. At Juror/Commissioner Byrd’s direction, the ARBC has offered to provide quarterly in-person reports to the Jury, or as often as the Jury requires. These dates will be announced in January 2026.
Loading ...