ARBC takes next steps in Upper Amite Restoration project

ARBC takes next steps in Upper Amite Restoration project, affirms funding readiness - Livingston Parish News

Posted Wednesday, August 13, 2025 5:00 pm

Tom Aswell | The News

Livingston, La. - The Amite River Basin Commission (ARBC) on Tuesday authorized the hiring of professional services to conduct a Phase 1 environmental assessment for property located within the Amite River Basin. The board also affirmed the availability of non-state funds to meet the requirements for Capital Outlay eligibility.

ARBC President John Clark said the Upper Amite Restoration Project represents “a major effort to reduce flood risk and improve drainage in the Capital Region by restoring significantly degraded areas along the Amite River.”

“Today’s actions allow the ARBC to responsibly assess the value and restoration feasibility of sites we have identified along the Amite River,” Clark said. “As outlined in our 2025 flood plan, restoring the river will slow it down and reduce sediment load, thereby improving efficient drainage in the Amite River system.”

In other business, the commission unanimously approved the incorporation of a July 7 resolution from the East Feliciana Parish Police Jury, which went on record opposing the Upper Amite Retention and Detention measures.

“I just want to remind everybody that East Feliciana Parish is part of the Amite River Basin. They have a designated seat on our board, and they will always be represented here,” Clark said. “Not to mention, East Feliciana Parish occupies a vast amount of river frontage along the Amite River compared to other parishes in the basin, so with that, my vote is ‘yes’,” he added, casting his vote in support of the Parker-Byrd Resolution.

Paul Sawyer, executive director of the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District, said the district’s website is undergoing updates to allow for greater public participation and to enable residents to subscribe to the district’s newsletter. Currently, about 200 of the estimated 100,000 residents in the seven-parish region are signed up.

Legal counsel Larry Bankston noted that a recent public records request resulted in the production of significant material, although most of it was already available online. “All the information is now posted,” he said.

Kevin O’Gorman delivered a progress update on the $10 million ARBC Master Plan project, a key component of the $100 million Amite River Basin Major Projects Program. The plan includes the development of the West Shore Connector Levee, which will supplement the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain protection system by linking ring levees around St. James Parish communities. The levee is intended to shield those communities from Amite River flooding and Lake Pontchartrain storm surge.

“St. James Parish has picked up the ball and run with it,” Clark said. “[St. James] Parish President Dufresne and his team are dogged in their pursuit to finish this project and protect the citizens in the lower Basin. They prove every day that flood protection is a race, and they don’t stop running.”

At the close of the meeting, Commissioner Edwin Parker of East Feliciana Parish announced that he will step down at the end of his current term, concluding 38 years of public service on various boards and commissions. The board gave him a standing ovation in recognition of his contributions.