It's been a long three years. In 2016 St. Tammany Parish requested money to conduct a feasibility study for proposed flood control projects as part of the Water Resources Development Act.
The bill passed, but the parish never got the money. Finally, after persistent action by Congressman Steve Scalise on behalf of the Parish, the federal government is providing the money.
"We've been working hard to try to get the Corps of Engineers to pay attention to us in our very first effort. And so much of the thanks go to Congressman Scalise," Parish President Pat Brister says.
The $3-million dollars will go to the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct the study. It's the first time in a long time attention is being paid to the North Shore and coastal area of St. Tammany, rather than on Orleans Parish.
"We have our own needs over here, too," Brister said. "And Congressman Scalise recognized that and has been helping us to get the Corp to do this study."
Brister says the study will be on much more than just the flood prone North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.
"The Pearl River, the Tchefuncte River, a lot of our flooding comes from riverine flooding," Brister notes. "So that will be part of the study also."
Brister says the Louisiana Master Plan will be used as the guide for the whole of St. Tammany Parish as for flood and shoreline protection. She also indicated ecosystem restoration will be included in the study.