Flood damage delays reopening parish boat launch, road
Efforts to restore St. Charles Parish recreational facilities at the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway in Norco continue as the area recovers from flood damage that occurred when the bays were opened to relieve flooding from the Mississippi River.
The St. Charles Parish Recreation area, boat launch, fishing jetty and Wetland Watchers Park along the Lower Guide levee and Interstate Highway 10 were heavily damaged, according to Duane Foret, parish director of the Department of Parks and Recreation.
“The spillway suffered significant damage during the opening,” said Tristan Babin, the parish’s interim public information officer. “The parish has begun the process of getting the recreational facilities back into operation, however, the process is lengthy as it involves getting estimates from contractors and securing the funding to make the repairs.”
Babin said the facilities will remain closed until they are restored for safe use.
“We are working to get this online as quickly as possible for our residents but unfortunately we do not have an estimate on when they will be open,” he said.
There is no timetable on when the parish will open these areas for public use.
Remaining recreation areas of the spillway were reopened by Feb. 1.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers closed the ATV area on the spillway on Jan. 3 and it has been reopened, said Corps spokesman Ricky Boyett. The Spillway Radio Control Airfield also has been reopened.
The area is open for seasonal hunting, fishing, ATV and motorcycle riding, biking, boating, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking, water sports, as well as birding and wildlife viewing.
On Jan. 10, the Corps started opening the spillway to ease the rain-swollen waters of the Mississippi River and prevent flooding of New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
All recreational activities were ceased on the spillway in anticipation of the released floodwaters.
Parish recreational workers removed a lot of equipment out of the spillway area.
The Corps also suspended all work within 1,500 feet of the levee.
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