COMITE RIVER DIVERSION, LA
CONDITION OF PLAN IMPROVEMENT, 1 OCTOBER 2001

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Authorization:

The Amite River and Tributaries (AR&T) study resulted from a resolution of the Committee on Public Works of the United States Senate. The resolution, sponsored by Senators Allen J. Ellender and Russell B. Long of Louisiana, was adopted on April 14, 1967. The Comite River Diversion Project, a sub-feature of the main AR&T project, was authorized for construction by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1992 (PL1O2-580, Section 101-11), dated October 31, 1992. The WRDA of 1996, dated October 12, 1996, and as amended by Section 371 of the Water Resources Development Act of 1999, Public Law 106-53 (WRDA 1999) dated August 17, 1999, with technical corrections to Section 371 of WRDA 1999 in Section 6 of Public Law 106-109 dated November 24, 1999.

Project:

To provide flood protection for the residents of the Comite River Basin. The project will reduce stages on the Comite River from the diversion point to the Confluence with the Amite River, on the Amite River from the confluence with the Comite River near Denham Springs to Port Vincent, and on Hurricane Creek, Robert Canal, and White's, Cypress and Baton Rouge Bayous. The Comite River Diversion project is separated into approximately 12 contracts to be constructed over a period of seven (7) to ten (10) years. The Lilly Bayou Control Structure is the first construction contract scheduled for awarded in April 2002.

Physical Data:

The project provides for construction of a 12-mile long diversion channel located between the Comite and Mississippi Rivers north of the town of Baker, LA. And south of the town of Zachary, LA. Included in the project is a diversion structure at Lilly Bayou, four drop structures to handle intercepted drainage, three low flow augmentation pumps to supplement flows down streams of the diversion channel, improvements to Bayou Baton Rouge, White Bayou, and Cypress Bayou north of the diversion channel, an earthen closure at Brooks Lake, and the provision of project mitigation areas.

Progress:

The project plans and specifications are being prepared. On October 1, 2001, a Project Cooperation Agreement (PCA) was signed by the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, the City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge, the Amite River Basin Drainage and Water Conservation District, non-Federal Sponsors, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), New Orleans District, Federal Sponsor. The PCA defines the roles, responsibilities and obligations of the non-Federal and Government Federal sponsors for the construction, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and rehabilitation (OMRR&R) of the project..