St. Mary Excel reports on third-quarter activities

St. Mary Excel implements recommendations of the Urban Land Institute panel, Morgan City and Berwick Louisiana: Building the Foundation for a New Economy Along the Atchafalaya River (see https://2os2f877tnl1dvtmc3wy0aq1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uplo... ) and the Atchafalaya River Coastal Hub (ARCH) strategic plan (see https://www.stmaryexcel.com/_files/ugd/14cd31_466bd1c92af74cf9b0cbb7b950...).
During Q3 of 2026, St. Mary Excel:
•Participated in discussions with the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) on scheduling a tree planting in early 2027 on Atchafalaya marshland in the Atchafalaya Delta Wildlife Management Area.
•Received an update on engineering and design firm progress in partnership with the St. Mary Levee District for an ARCH preliminary engineering report.
•Participated in the Cajun Coast Visitor and Convention Bureau (CCVCB)-hosted meeting on connecting the Atchafalaya Gateway hiking/biking trail to the 495-mile Bayou State Trail that will have a terminus entry/exit access at the CCVCB location.
•Secured adoption of the Atchafalaya Gateway Trail resolution by Town of Berwick (July 14), the City of Morgan City (July 28), and the St. Mary Parish Council (September 9), unifying the Morgan City and Berwick trail networks under one name.
•Outlined the 1927 flood event commemoration with The Water Institute. Social media posts on the significance of the flooding event will be made, along with the response to the event in levee creation, a feature that ensures Morgan City’s coastal, basin, and river protection.
•Received acceptance by the Louisiana Trust for Historic Preservation for The Great Flood Mississippi River Centennial 1927–2027 Atchafalaya river sand Sandworks Festival. Sandworks is a river sand sculpture competition for regulatory engineering and coastal agency staff. For more information or to register a team, email info@stmaryexcel.com.
•Participated in National Estuarine Research Reserve Association (NERRA) updates and connected with the PEW Charitable Trust to partner for designation communication and information needs.
•Attended the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) meeting at the Port building in Morgan City, heard comments from CPRA’s Brian Lezina on ANERR, and made comments to update CPRA on ARCH status and issued an invitation for CPRA, and other agencies and organizations to field a river sand building team.
•Facilitated a site visit by DOTD Secretary Glenn Ledet and staff that was requested by local and state leaders to update them and the public on the status of the Long-Allen Highway 182 bridge refurbishment project. Leaders inquired and committed to working together on bridge signage and lighting.
•Facilitated a Local Interest Group meeting on September 11 to share projects and collaborate whenever needed and possible.
•Participated in planning for the designation of Patterson High School and Morgan City High School as Ocean Guardian Schools. Excel planned to attend the banner award event Oct. 2 and present Atchafalaya projects to the coastal clubs.
Facilitated LSU AgCenter's visiting the Brownell Memorial Park & Carillon Tower to provide guidance to local caretaker of foliage, grasses, and ecosystem habitat plantings.
•Delivered a joint St. Mary Excel, St. Mary Levee District, and Atchafalaya Intracoastal Coalition letter and copies of the ARCH Strategic Plan to Sen. John Kennedy and Congressman Clay Higgins in Washington, D.C, through COLAB’s September Capitol trip.
•Submitted a Danos GIVES grant application for the Atchafalaya Gateway Junior Guides Program, a youth bicycle safety and earn-a-bike initiative, in collaboration with the Morgan City Police Department (MCPD) and the Berwick Police Department (BPD).
Email: info@stmaryexcel.com for one of St. Mary Excel's handouts.