The recurring worries about high water in Lower St. Martin Parish is sparking interest in a better way to monitor water levels in the area.
At the March 20 parish council committee meetings, Parish Homeland Security Director Lt. Col. Terry Guidry said a new digital hydrological gauge system currently being installed offers a better way. The old water level measuring system made use of simple footage scales attached to docks in waterways at various locations.
Guidry described an electronic system that can be accessed from any computer terminal. By eliminating the time delay caused by the need to travel to the locations to read the scales, the new system will allow water levels to trigger needed actions as soon as the need is detected.
Also, a baseline standard can be applied to all monitoring stations for a better real-time interpretation of water movement through the system.
Guidry showed photos of parish personnel diving in flood water to close backfilling outlets near Stephensville. The new system would allow steps like those to be taken before the water rises to that level.
A long-planned flood wall in the Bayou Estates area has made it through the Corps of Engineers permitting process and is expected to help alleviate flooding in Lower St. Martin Parish. It is projected to be complete around April, 2019.
Mosquito Control
In other business, the council approved a resolution allowing Parish President Chester Cedars to renew the long-standing encephalitis surveillance contract with Cajun Mosquito Control LLC. Cedars said mosquito complaints are being received earlier than usual this year.
The surveillance system detects the presence of dangerous viruses through the use of sentinel chickens and monitoring ponds. When the virus is detected the frequency of spraying as well as the strength of the insecticide used is increased.
Also, Cedars is recommending that the parish establish the post of director of public works. Cedars said the issue will be addressed in the April meetings.
Finally, Cedars recommended accepting a request from the City of St. Martinville to finance studies into drainage problems in areas affected by the 2016 flood.
Of the three areas requested for study, Cedars said two are already part of studies planned or now in progress. He said the third, addressing the Ledoux neighborhood, is clearly in the parish’s interest and should be accepted. The projected cost for that study is about $50,000.
