Levee District Awaits Bill’s Fate

By ROY PITCHFORD

PORT ALLEN – The Atchafalaya Basin Levee District Board of Commissioners is waiting word from Washington, D.C., to find out if Louisiana will really receive up to $7 billlion in federal funds to improve water resources.

The board’s executive director, William Tyson, told commissioners Wednesday that both houses of Congress approved the $23 billion Water Resources Development Act of 2007, the first comprehensive water resources legislation by Congress in several years.

He had some cautions.

First, he said, President Bush has threatened to veto the bill.

The bill drew large bipartisan margins in the House and Senate, so if Bush does veto the measure, Congress may still override his veto, Tyson said.

Next, Tyson said, the bill is mainly “a language bill,” rather than “a money bill.”

He said it authorizes projects, but funding may have to come from additional legislation.

After the meeting, Tyson said the bill could give impetus to a $300 million Bayou Sorrel Lock program.

Also, it could jump-start a delayed plan for a road that would give Levee District personnel greater access to levees and flood control structures, while improving access to the Indian Bayou Management Area, Tyson said.

In other business, commissioners agreed to seek help from a professional forester in performing timber management duties on Levee Board land in St. Martin Parish near Butte La Rose.

There was general agreement a forester could help identify trees for selective cutting and avoid problems related to wetlands issues.

Commission attorney Steve Marionneaux suggested the board first examine a state law which he said may allow the state Office of Forestry to provide such assistance.

Originally published by WESTSIDE BUREAU.

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