Cameron and Vermilion parishes held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday for a $25.4 million flood mitigation project that will create a more resilient Louisiana, using the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s approach to reducing flood risk and respecting the natural functions of the state’s watersheds.

The Mermentau Basin Inundation Relief project will connect current drainage laterals along La. Hwy. 82 in an effort to redirect stormwater north of the highway. This will involve widening downstream channels and installing new gates at the East End Locks and other drainage features, which will help manage the increased flow and improve flood storage within the basin.

“We could not be more excited for the Mermentau Basin Inundation Relief project to begin construction,” Cameron Parish Police Jury President Ronald Nunez said. “This flood resilience project will reduce flood inundation during periods of heavy rainfall and storms for not only our parish but multiple parishes nearby in Southwest Louisiana. This project directly aligns with the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s (LWI) goal of working together to create a more flood-resilient Louisiana for everyone.”

The Louisiana Office of Community Development-Disaster Recovery funded the project through the state’s $1.2 billion CDBG-MIT grant. LOCD-DR has awarded funding to a total of 127 Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s projects throughout the state.

The Mermentau Basin Inundation Relief project will take place in Regions 4 and 5, two of Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s nine watershed regions throughout the state.