State Budget Provides Major Investment in Capital Region Flood Reduction

Jul 1
2 min read

Combination of new and existing state investments are

the most ever in Capital Region

BATON ROUGE, La. — The Amite River Basin Commission (ARBC) announced that the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 state budget includes significant new investments to advance flood risk reduction, watershed restoration, and implementation of the ARBC Master Plan.

With the Governor's signature of HB 1 and HB 2, the budget provides:

$1 million for the ARBC through the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) to support Commission operations and flood risk reduction initiatives; and
$67 million in Capital Outlay authorization, including $4 million available immediately, to advance the Upper Amite Restoration Project, a cornerstone of the ARBC Master Plan.

ARBC President John Clark praised the partnership between CPRA and the Commission.

"This investment combines CPRA's technical expertise with the ARBC's regional mission and local partnerships," Clark said. "Together, we're building a coordinated approach to flood protection that didn't exist a decade ago. These funds will help move the ARBC Master Plan from planning to implementation."

ARBC Vice President Jack Harris emphasized the broader regional impact.

"These investments, combined with more than $100 million in other major flood protection projects with our parish partners, represent the largest state commitment to flood protection the Capital Region has ever seen," Harris said. "Every one of the seven parishes in the Amite River Basin is benefiting from projects that reduce flood risk."

Current priority projects include the Upper Amite Restoration Project ($67 million), Bayou Manchac Flood Risk Reduction ($30 million), New River Pump Station ($40 million), Lower Amite Channel Restoration ($20 million), and the St. James Connector Levee ($10 million).

ARBC leaders recognized Senator Valarie Hodges, Senator Franklin Foil, Representative Tony Bacala, and Representative Paul Sawyer for their leadership in securing the funding.

"This funding reflects months of collaboration," Clark said. "These legislators worked together to keep flood protection a priority, and their efforts will benefit communities throughout the basin."

This investment comes during the tenth anniversary of the Great Flood of 2016, when more than 146,000 homes were damaged and economic losses exceeded $10 billion. The disaster underscored the need for a comprehensive, watershed-wide approach to flood risk reduction.

Together with Act 490 of 2022, the Watershed Restoration and Conservation Fund created by HB 802 and SB 367, and this year's budget investments, Louisiana continues to build a long-term framework for flood resilience in the Amite River Basin.

While significant progress has been made over the past decade, ARBC officials emphasized that continued investment in watershed restoration and regional flood mitigation remains essential to protecting communities throughout the Capital Region.

About the Amite River Basin Commission

At ARBC, our mission is to mitigate flood damage, coordinate river management, promote responsible watershed management, and to conserve and restore the unique natural resources in the Amite River Basin watershed. The Basin includes Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, St. Helena, and St. James Parishes. For more information visit www.amitebasin.org.

Contact: Paul Sawyer, Amite River Basin Commission, psawyer@amitebasin.org, 225-296-4900.