LAPLACE — Levee protection for the East Bank of St. John the Baptist Parish received another nod of approval this week, leaving it up to Congress whether or not the project will be built and funded.

Parish President Natalie Robottom received notice Wednesday from Jeff Varisco, project manager with the United States Army Corps of Engineers — New Orleans District, that the Chief’s Report for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Levee Project was signed and returned from headquarters in Washington D.C.

The Chief’s Report is a recommendation to Congress for authorization and construction funding for the project, based upon the conclusion that the “Washington-level review indicates that the project recommended by the reporting officers is technically sound, environmentally and socially acceptable and economically justified.”

“It’s not over,” Robottom said of the push for the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Levee. “Now we need to work with our delegation to make sure it’s funded and then we can build that project.”

Robottom said the levee project has been in the study phase for close to 44 years, adding a signed Chief’s Report is a “critical step to having the project authorized, funded and constructed” and construction “would assure residents, business owners and industry partners that their families, homes and investments are protected.”

The recommended plan includes construction of a $718 million levee system around the communities of Montz, LaPlace, Reserve and Garyville based on the one percent probability storm level of risk reduction. The project would consist of approximately 18 miles of earthen levees and floodwalls, four floodgates, a drainage canal running parallel to the levee, a flood-side ditch to maintain hydraulic connectivity between wetlands north and south of the system, two drainage structures and four pump stations along the alignment.

The federal share of the project is 65 percent, leaving the non-federal share at 35 percent. The estimated annual cost for operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and rehabilitation is $5,070,000, which will be the responsibility of non-federal partners.

Robottom said the Corps, Pontchartrain Levee District, parish, state and federal officials will continue working to obtain the necessary funding for design and construction of this project.

The Corps will move forward with pre-construction, engineering and design while awaiting Congressional authorization and appropriation for construction, she said.

“This levee is critical to the safety of our community and the interstate system which supports commerce and serves as the evacuation route for Southeast Louisiana,” Robottom said. “Over the past two and a half years, we have worked long and hard to get to this point, but our work will not be complete until the protection our community deserves is in place.”