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More than $2.6 billion is coming to Louisiana through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from the infrastructure bill passed by Congress in November and in federal Hurricane Ida recovery money. St. Mary Parish is in line for more than $75 million.
A funding breakdown of coastal, flood control and waterways projects funding in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the hurricane funding was released Wednesday by the office of U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge.
It includes more than $643 million for Louisiana in coastal and flood protection work. In that figure are $379 million for the Morganza-to-the-Gulf Hurricane Protection System, $125 million for southwest coastal Louisiana hurricane protection and $52.9 million for the Atchafalaya Basin. The money is being allocated through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
“Louisiana communities have waited years, sometimes decades, to see progress on Army Corps projects,” Cassidy said. “This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package is crucial to protect our state against future Hurricanes and floods. Looking forward to the additional ways the bipartisan infrastructure bill will benefit our state.”
The Hurricane Ida supplemental funding amounts to about $2 billion for Louisiana.
It’s not yet clear exactly how much of the money earmarked for Louisiana will be spent in St. Mary. Some of the items combine projects in multiple jurisdictions under a single appropriation. Some are not clear about whether the funding will pay for some or all of the proposed work.
One of the items listed specifically is “construction of the Charenton Floodgate,” one of several projects grouped together under an $85 million appropriation in the hurricane relief funding.
The flood gate construction is expected to cost about $42 million, said Tim Matte, executive director of the St. Mary Levee District.
The gate sits between two earthen levees and once allowed access to the Atchafalaya from Bayou Teche. But the gate was welded shut in advance of a 2011 flood and has never been reopened, Matte said. The gate is also lower than either of the two levees it connects.
The same item in the Hurricane Ida funding breakdown includes improvements on levees to the south and north of Berwick and in the Verdunville area. The work south of Berwick may include a widening of the levee, which is too narrow to accommodate more elevation, Matte said.
Infrastructure act funding also earmarks $10 million to connect the east and west portions of the Bayou Sale levee beneath the La. 317 bridge, where there’s currently a gap.
The funding through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act targets dredging in the area in and around the Port of Morgan City, which is already seeing substantial progress in clearing waterways clogged with sediment by a series of floods going back at least to 2015.
The Corps funding includes about $33.1 million for “Dredging and Surveys of Lower Bar, Bay, Upper Bar, Bayou Chene, Boeuf and Black.”
Another $9.9 million will go to “damage repairs to levee slides at two locations; dredging of shoaling near Morgan City/Three Rivers, LA and at Berwick Bay Harbor; and replacement of levee surfacing along the Berwick Levee.”
That’s on top of continuing funding for the removal of fluff mud between Eugene Island and the sea buoy by the Brice Civil Constructors dredge Arulak as well as work by three different dredging vessels on local waterways in recent months.
The Biden administration budget for this year contained $16.3 million for the Port of Morgan City. Port Executive Director Raymond “Mac” Wade said that appropriation is about twice the usual amount, but still falls short of the port’s dredging needs. Major dredging projects can easily run to $10 million or more.
The last seven years have been a struggle to open the main port channel to its authorized dimensions of 20 feet deep by 400 feet wide. Shoaling since 2015 has largely kept large cargo vessels, and the import-export business they bring with them, out of the port.
“We asked for more money,” Wade said. “We were hoping for more. But we’re glad we got what we got. ..."
“This is very good. This is the best we’ve ever done.”

John Glenn Cooper Jr., 33, a native and resident of Morgan City, died Friday, Jan. 14, 2022.
Visitation will be Saturday from 11 a.m. until services at 1 p.m. at Siracusaville Recreation Center in Morgan City. Masks and social distancing required. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery. Services accessible on funeral home Facebook page.
He is survived by his father, John Cooper Sr. and Dora Morrison-Cooper; brothers, Milton Garrison, Quentin Cooper and Trevaughn Morrison; sisters, Chanelle Hill and Larielle Morrison; grandfather, John Wilson; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by his mother, grandmothers and grandfather.
Jones Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Baby Drako Atanacio Guerrero died Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022, at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center.
He is survived by his parents, Blaze Guerrero and Raygan Morgan; sister, Maci Guerrero; paternal grandparents, Lisa and Atanacio Guerrero III; maternal grandparents, Krystle and Jason Landry, Harvey Morgan Sr.; paternal great-grandparents, Rodney and Deborah Hughes, Atanacio Guerrero Jr. and Angie Daigle; maternal great-grandparents, Suzette and Michael McCall and Tammy Colliver; and a host of other relatives.
He was preceded in death by maternal grandfathers.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m. Monday at Morgan City Cemetery.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

May 24, 1957 — January 17, 2022
Frances Jane “Frankie” Thomas, 64, a resident of Berwick, peacefully went to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, January 17, 2022.
Frankie was born on May 24, 1957 in Los Angeles, California and is the daughter of David “Dave” “Bobby” R. Thomas and Patricia Michel Thomas.
Frankie had a deep unwavering love for Christ, she was a very faith filled person and showed her Christlike kindness and love to everyone around her. She was always a caregiver, taking care of others before herself, she was always there for anyone who needed her. Frankie was a very quiet soul who was always observing what was going on around her, never saying a word, just listening. She loved her family and cherished the time she was able to spend with her many nieces and nephews. Frankie had a passion for gardening and had a true green thumb as she could make anything grow.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her mother, Patricia Michel Thomas; seven siblings, Ronald J. Thomas, Robin Battle Thomas, Mark Thomas, Marion Jett, Charlie Autrey, Kelly Sue LeBlanc and Shannon Thomas Bianchini; numerous nieces and nephews.
Frankie was preceded in death by her father, David “Dave” “Bobby” R. Thomas, step mother, Linda Sue Autrey; one sister, Angie Gonzales.
Private family services will be held at a later date.