City Unveils Bayou Flood Plan

Monroe City Engineer Kim Golden explained to members of the city council at the last city council meeting held Tuesday, September 14, 2021 of a city plan in the works pertaining to flood protection around Youngs Bayou. Golden told council members that the three items on the agenda are in conjunction with the Youngs Bayou Retention Project, a large flood control project that the city had been working on for several years. Golden said that when completed, the project will add 80 acres of retention right in the heart of the city, and it will impact about 1,400 structures and public ones as well. The dollar value, according to Golden, will mitigate about $40 million in flood damage, as it (the project) is a significant undertaking. The project will consist of two retention ponds, a 60-acre pond constructed in the so-called "hole in the city" area near the old city dump. The second pond, which will be about 20 acres on airport property just east of Booker T (District 3) in an area that used to be called the "dog pound" area because a dog pound supposedly once existed there. Since the area is low, Golden shared that the project will be a major benefit to the Booker T area.

The pond in the center of the city, Golden said, will impact all of the areas along Youngs Bayou that floods very frequently and will be vastly enhanced by this project. Golden also noted that the city must secure two appraisal contracts and an acquisition agent for the project to continue and succeed. Golden said that is necessary because the city has to buy the right of way in the heart of the city around the old city dump. She also said that the city has to do it according to federal guidelines because the city will be using federal money.

"We want to get it done right or it will render the entire project ineligible to use those funds," said Golden. The city, according to Golden, has already secured from both federal and flood control through the Louisiana Watershed Initiative, totaling about $8 million, which will implement the project. Golden said that further details would be worked out by those who will negotiate talks for the appraisal/acquisition contracts. She said that the estimated construction cost of Youngs Bayou right now is about $9 million dollars, as the acquisition of the right of way is a million dollars, and mitigation/permit fees is another million dollars.

"So, $11 million dollars to offset $40 million dollars in anticipated flood damage to some of the most fragile parts of the city and some of the most challenged neighborhoods, it is often hard to make the cost benefits work out when you're dealing with challenged areas, because the property values, just don't work out", said Golden.

Golden also added that she is proud that the city has brought the project to this point for these very challenging and vulnerable areas of the city.