$25MM Flood Mitigation Project Breaking Ground in Cameron & Vermilion Parishes

The Mermentau Basin Inundation Relief Project, funded through the Louisiana Watershed Initiative’s (LWI) $1.2 billion CDBG-MIT program, will help protect Louisiana’s coastal communities by enhancing natural water flow and building critical flood resilience. 

Fenstermaker is proud to provide design engineering services for this project, taking place in Regions 4 and 5—two of LWI’s nine watershed regions. The project combines three key elements to deliver comprehensive flood mitigation: 

• Locks Improvements: Enhanced control at the East End Locks for better flood management. 
• New Water Control Structures: Updated infrastructure to regulate water flow and protect against storm surges. 
• Hydraulic Connectivity: Strategic dredging and channel widening along LA Hwy 82 to improve drainage and flood storage capacity within the Mermentau Basin. 

As Dr. John D. Foret, PhD, VP of Environmental at Fenstermaker, stated, “The Mermentau Inundation Relief Project is a classic example of a regional approach to resiliency—aligning resources across levels of government to provide a proactive solution for lowering water levels in the Mermentau Basin during storm events. 

It’s a privilege for Fenstermaker’s interdisciplinary team to advance such a significant project.” 

#coastalengineering #floodmitigation #resilience