Work continues on the intersection of the West Esplanade and Elmwood Canals
As 2010 approaches, the Southeastern Louisiana Urban Flood Control Program (SELA) underthe direction of the Army Corps of Engineers will mark 13 years of pumping station and drainage canal projects. The good news is that to date 46 projects have been completed at a total investment of approximately 0 million. Even better news, funds for the SELA flood control work are available to continue the program well into the next decade. There will, however, be a few changes in the way SELA projects will be funded. Up until this point, Jefferson Parish has been required to, on a yearly basis, come up with its 25 percent match while the Federal Government provided the remaining 75 percent for each construction project. The new requirements call for a 35 percent match by the parish.
However, just prior to the new administration taking office, the authorization came from Congress, under former President George W. Bush, to fund 100 percent of the remaining Southeastern Louisiana Urban Flood Control Projects with the stipulation that Jefferson Parish agree to repay 35% with interest to the federal coffers over the next 30 years. This arrangement will allow SELA projects to be completed in 7 to 8 years, half the time it would take if the Parish had to come up with their 35% share upfront.
With an estimated 2 million in projects remaining, Jefferson taxpayers would have had to come up with some
The Cousins Pump Station Improvements were completed in September of 2009
.2 million a year for the next 8 years (1.7 million match) to provide their 35% match. Jefferson’s current millage only generates million a year, not nearly enough to cover the match. It would also have delayed the completion of this project about another 8 years. Under the federal government-pays, parish-reimburses-over-30-years plan, flood control upgrades will be expedited without adding additional burden to an already stretched Parish budget.
The 2 million funding will cover projects already slated for construction, as well as the completion of some current Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control projects which are under way. Studies to be conducted include Hoey’s Basin and West Catahouchie. Should any new Southeast Louisiana Urban Flood Control projects be recommended as a result of these studies, additional funding sources will have to be generated as they are not included in the 2 million.
That being said, the evolution of SELA has proven to be organic one, growing from a handful of projects back in 1997 and blossoming to some 70 projects and studies when completed in 2018.
