Baton Rouge Reporter

Congressman Garret Graves of South Louisiana announced the groundbreaking of "Reach A" in Dularge, Louisiana. This is part of the Morganza-to-the-Gulf (MTG) hurricane protection project, developed with Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District (TLCD), the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

“Construction of Reach A plugs a vulnerability gap that otherwise exposes Dularge, Houma, and surrounding communities,” Graves stated. He emphasized the importance of starting and funding Morganza as a priority despite past federal delays.

The TLCD identified Reach A as a critical gap exposing Houma to flood risks. The construction will begin with levee features aimed at protecting Dularge.

“I want to remind you: local folks didn’t wait for the federal government and we didn’t either,” Graves noted, referring to efforts since 2008 to gather state funding alongside contributions from the Deepwater Horizon settlement.

Morganza was authorized for federal participation in 2007 but was considered too costly until Graves requested a revised role for the Army Corps in 2018. This resulted in an Adaptive Criteria Assessment Report reducing costs significantly. With improved benefit-cost ratios, Graves secured changes allowing federal investment starting January 2021.

Since then, $78.3 million has been allocated through congressional earmarks, with additional funds pending approval. According to USACE, MTG aims to reduce flooding risk for over 52,000 structures and more than 200,000 people affected by coastal deterioration and storm surges like those seen during Hurricane Ida.