St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper announced funding for the first Parish-wide Comprehensive Drainage Plan to implement critical stormwater management has been secured.
Parish President Cooper says proper drainage is imperative in increasing resiliency in the years to come as they address the flood protection needs of their citizens.
The Parish-wide Comprehensive Drainage Plan will be a $900,000 initiative funded solely by the 1.69 drainage millage, which renewal was passed with overwhelming support by the voters of St. Tammany in March 2021.
St. Tammany has been, and continues to be, at high risk for flooding events. The Louisiana Watershed Initiative Action Plan lists St. Tammany as one of the most impacted Parishes from the two flooding events in March and August 2016. Additionally, the Watershed Initiative’s Action Plan predicts St. Tammany to be the state’s most vulnerable Parish to flooding by the year 2043.
St. Tammany Parish faces unique challenges regarding stormwater management. The Parish is forced to accommodate storm water that comes from outside of St. Tammany Parish borders and travels the various rivers through the Parish to its ultimate outfall. The Parish has many areas with little relief at the termination of drainage basins, which can present challenges in maintaining adequate capacity in the systems.
