• $30 million project aims to reduce flooding across three parishes (WAFB)
- ARBC
- Oct 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Oct 30
Published: Oct. 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM CDT|Updated: 21 hours ago)
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - A new $30 million project to reduce flooding across three parishes is moving forward, offering hope to residents who regularly deal with flooding or standing water after storms.
Chelsea Williams, who lives on the Amite River Diversion Canal in French Settlement, said standing water in her backyard is common when river levels are high.
“The water after it rains will just sit for days and days and days if the river is high,” Williams said.
Paul Sawyer, Executive Director with the Amite River Basin Commission, said the flooding occurs when Bayou Manchac becomes overwhelmed with water and cannot drain properly to the Amite River. Ward Creek is a major contributor to the problem.
“Ward Creek drains about 75% of EBR Parish and it comes right into Bayou Manchac. The problem is Ward Creek is pointed in the wrong direction,” Sawyer said.
The restoration project will realign Ward Creek to improve water flow and restore the channel for more efficient drainage.
Sawyer called the project historic because East Baton Rouge, Ascension and Iberville parishes are joining forces with the city of St. George to make improvements from I-10 to the Amite River.
“All of these elements in the Amite River Basin, it’s a dynamic system, so if you do something over here it’s going to impact somebody over there and they recognize that and they’re working together to solve problems,” Sawyer said.
The project aims to significantly reduce flood risk in the Bayou Manchac area and around the Amite River.
“People and homes and communities are going to be protected. It means the flood risk of Bayou Manchac and around the Amite River is going to drop significantly,” Sawyer said.
Williams is looking forward to seeing the work begin on a project that will make a positive impact on her family’s property.
“It’s just nice for the general area like our home value and just our quality of life. It’s exciting and I’m glad to hear that it’s finally moving forward,” Williams said.
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