Police Jury is taking step in right direction to prevent flooding
Published 6:00 pm Monday, July 1, 2019
Clearing obstructions from drainage laterals is an important step in making sure an area drains in the most efficient way possible.
Over time, debris can collect inside a lateral and block water flow. A tree limb or log can fall into a lateral and end up trapping additional debris, making it even harder for water to move effectively.
Problems like these are an easy catalyst for laterals to back up, leading to floods during heavy rains. It’s even worse when debris winds up in areas that are tough to access.
Thankfully, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury is taking action to address this problem. The panel recently accepted a bid by R.D. Spell Inc. to perform clearing work at the Kayouche Coulee lateral for just over $350,000.
That may sound like a lot of money, but this type of work is harder than it appears and ultimately is worth the cost. Plus, this type of maintenance isn’t as expensive as larger construction projects.
The work, expected to begin within the next two months, includes a two-mile stretch of the Kayouche lateral from Interstate 210 to Chennault International Airport. A small barge has to go down inside the lateral to clear whatever is blocking the water flow.
Debris isn’t limited to trees and logs. Allen Wainwright, parish public works director, said an old railroad trestle bridge had partially collapsed in the Kayouche lateral.
Kayouche isn’t the only drainage lateral that will be cleared. Others include the Bayou Arsene lateral in Hecker; Bear Head Creek in Starks; and the Buxton Creek lateral in the DeQuincy area.
What’s good about clearing these laterals is that crews don’t have to dig or remove dirt. Also, they don’t have to obtain rights-of-way, a process that can take time to achieve.
These projects are a way for the parish to improve water flow in the laterals while studying them for a longer-term effort.
The Police Jury has approved various efforts to make areas drain better. This type of work is another step in a long process that hopefully will prevent neighborhoods from flooding.
Kayouche Coulee
