The construction of the West Shore Hurricane Protection Levee is quickly becoming a closer reality for St. John the Baptist Parish.

The U.S. Senate passed the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA,) which will help improve flood control and coastal hurricane protection throughout Louisiana, as well as aid with water infrastructure development.

Senator David Vitter, the Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was a crucial member in authoring and advancing the WRDA bill.

What does that mean for St. John?

The West Shore Lake Pontchartrain Hurricane Protection Project was included and the bill gave authorization for the project. The U.S. House of Representatives will need to vote and pass the legislation to finalize the bill.

Also included in the bill was language that directly benefited Louisiana by including coastal restoration, authorization for Morganza to the Gulf and an increase in Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund expenditures.

Our 2016 Andouille Festival is rapidly approaching. We recently had the 43rd Annual Andouille Festival kick off and poster reveal Sept. 19 at the St. John Civic Center.

The poster was designed by local artist Dana Bardell Wallace. Posters are now available for sale and a portion of proceeds will benefit breast cancer research and awareness.

We also would like to thank Marathon Petroleum Company, our Presenting Sponsor, as well as all of our 2016 festival sponsors, who allow us to continue to grow our festival.

Don’t forget about our Teen & Miss Andouille Pageant

Come check out our festival, too,

Michael P. Wright is St. John the Baptist Parish Council District 5 representative. Contact him at District5@sjbparish.com or m.wright@sjbparish.com.