NEWS

Riser, Thompson say Mississippi levee will be raised

Greg Hilburn
USA TODAY Network

State Sens. Neil Riser and Francis Thompson said Thursday they’re confident they will secure $1.5 million that will unlock $10 million in federal funds to raise the Mississippi River levee in Tensas Parish.

Both Riser, R-Columbia, and Thompson, D-Delhi, said they have assurances from Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri LeBas the money will be made available, mostly through emergency funding.

Fifth Louisiana Levee District President Reynold Minsky said the $10 million in federal funds became available in February, but he needs a $1.5 million state match to secure rights of way for the project.

“We need it so bad it’s unreal,” Minsky said. “This is an area of the levee that could have been topped in 2011 if we hadn’t added dirt to the top of it as an emergency temporary fix.”

The money would fund a project to raise 4.5 miles of levee by 6 feet in Tensas Parish.

“It’s a key piece of the puzzle to provide critical protection to people and property,” Minsky said.

The Tensas Basin Levee District includes 257 miles of mainline levee and another 100 miles of backwater levee, which combine to protect much of the eastern border of Louisiana.

Minsky said he had to have a commitment for the state money by May 1 or risk losing the federal funding to the Pearl River levee in Mississippi.

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