Latest news with #St.MartinParishCouncil
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Concerns grow over river diversion project in Atchafalaya Basin
ST. MARTIN PARISH, La. (KLFY) — St. Martin Parish council members and swamp advocates are expressing their concerns over a river diversion project in Atchafalaya Basin, a project they say could lead to widespread flooding and environmental damage. 'By doing that they're sacrificing the future of south-central Louisiana,' said Dean Wilson, the executive director of the . The East Grand Lake Project, first proposed by the , was later approved by the . The project's focus is to divert polluted water from the Atchafalaya River and Bayou Sorrel through 12 cuts, and then into nearby swamps. To oppose this, a coalition of groups, including the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers back in May of 2024 on issues of how the project will affect those who make a living by fishing in the Atchafalaya Basin. Wilson argues the project could cause widespread flooding and ecological damage. 'If the levees fall on the west side of the Atchafalaya Basin, that flood could be even larger than the 1927 flood,' said Wilson. 'I think we have less room to spread, because all the levees will probably flood Lafayette.' Wilson says the Atchafalaya Basin's commercial fishermen, who rely on its water for their livelihoods, will also be affected. He says the proposed river diversion not only threatens their income, but also the cultural heritage tied to generations of fishing in these waters. 'A lot of people make their living there, they pay the bills, buy groceries in commercial fishing, they also depend on waterways, which is lot of fisherman in Louisiana,' said Wilson. The St. Martin Parish Council recently passed a resolution at a May 7 meeting in opposition of the project. According to Wilson, two other neighboring parishes are also against the river diversion project. 'Iberville, Assumption and St. Martin Parish passed resolutions against the project and also Iberville Parish already filed an amicus brief in support of our lawsuit,' said Wilson. St. Martin Parish Council chairman Chris Tauzin says members will vote tonight on whether or not they will also support the amicus brief for the lawsuit. Fatal tractor crash prompts farm road safety push Senators itching for Trump green light to move on Russia sanctions Concerns grow over river diversion project in Atchafalaya Basin Opelousas Museum launches Neighborhoods Project A Quiet Week of Weather With Near Normal Temperatures… Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Cade residents discuss concerns with landfill at St. Martin Parish public hearing
CADE, La. (KLFY)- A public hearing was held for Cade residents who have concerns about the proposed expansion of a nearby dump site. The St. Martin Parish Council and members from the were in attendance to listen to residents' concerns. The nearby dump site, GreenPoint INC, is located on Old Spanish Highway in Cade and is owned by Sean Day. Day requested a solid waste permit modification application. In that application, it states the landfill would reach capacity within a year, and the site asked to increase the height of the site. Many residents have come forward with complaints about the odor and flying dust from the site. One resident, David Pugh, said he will speak at the meeting and hopes the Department of Environmental Quality will hear his concerns. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'We hope the DEQ will hear us, put the package together and deny his expansion, he's got a little bit of room to grow I think still, so he can make a little bit more money then he's obligated to close the place, that's what we'd rather have him do, we've had enough,' said Pugh. Pugh said the site is an eyesore for all residents who live near the site. 'It's an eyesore, it's a shame that it happening, it's a finger in our eye that they're letting him get away with all these things over there,' said Pugh. Joseph Cormier, a longtime resident in Cade, said he and his wife have also had concerns with sitting outside of their home because of the heavy dust polluting the air. He said he has contacted the Baton Rouge Department of Environmental Quality about the concern, but has not gotten an answer on what will be done. 'I've called Baton Rouge to complain about the dust, just to talk about how our life has changed and our dreams are being sacrificed to the cost of being owners and everybody else that's being productive or receiving a profit from their operations,' said Cormier. 'It's going to affect a radius of approximately three miles from its center, everybody within that three-mile radius has some type of risk by this dump,' said Cormier. Americans' outlook on economy becomes a bit more pessimistic: Poll Coffee prices at an all-time high, data shows Cade residents discuss concerns with landfill at St. Martin Parish public hearing Poll of scientists says large majority weighing leaving US Yolanda Saldívar, killer of Tejano music icon Selena, denied parole Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
