Entergy Powerline Right-of-Way & Structure Stakeout

Fenstermaker has a reputation for getting the job done. We’re known for finding innovative ways to solve project challenges. It all goes back to our basic commitment to exceed our clients’ expectations. It’s part of our culture and a characteristic consistently displayed by our team members. The Entergy Powerline Right-of-Way & Structure Stakeout project was a great example of the tenacity of our people.

Entergy’s Terrebonne to Bayou Vista 230kV Transmission Line Project route includes swampland areas along the corridor that are difficult to transverse. A challenge to any survey team. Fenstermaker was called by former employee Tim Fontenot, now with LW Survey Company. Fully knowing our capabilities and our knack for working in tough terrain, Tim asked us to furnish a survey crew as soon as possible.  Our Fenstermaker Survey staff hustled to get a field crew to the jobsite to minimize downtime for the client and contractors already on the job.  We deployed a crew early the following morning.

Our survey crews are often called upon to work in remote and challenging environments. Party Chief Terance Levy, Instrumentman Blake Veazey and Rodman Brandon Cole arrived at the project site to find terrain challenging indeed. The 25-mile project site is located in Assumption and Terrebonne Parishes and runs between Amelia and Lacombe. According to, now retired, Project Manager Bob Lastrapes, “Work is in very difficult terrain, spanning +/-25 miles.  Much of the powerline route is in floating marsh, locally called “flotant,” or “trembling prairie” (la prairie tremblante).  It is accessible by airboat or marsh buggy.  In overgrown areas where neither of those vehicles can get to the work site, the only access is on foot.  This usually requires light-footed walking to avoid breaking through the floating vegetation on the surface, but an occasional dunking is inevitable.  The crew chief reported being “chest-deep in the marsh.”

The client, Burns and McDonnell was pleased with our ability to respond quickly and the get the job done despite difficult working conditions.